# nun

/ˈnən/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nun
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. religious woman

noun · CEFR B1

a woman who belongs to a religious community and lives by special promises, often wearing a specific uniform called a habit.

For teachers: a female member of a religious order, particularly within Christianity or Buddhism, who lives under solemn vows.

- The nun spent her morning teaching at the local school before returning to the convent.
- After years of contemplation, she decided to join the order and live as a cloistered nun, dedicated to a life of prayer and service.

### 2. Semitic letter

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the fourteenth letter of several alphabets, such as Hebrew and Arabic.

For teachers: the fourteenth letter of many Semitic alphabets or abjads, including Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew, and Arabic.

- The teacher showed the students how to write the letter nun in Arabic script.
- In the study of Semitic linguistics, the letter nun is often associated with the phonetic value of a dental or alveolar nasal.

### 3. type of pigeon

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a type of bird that has feathers on its head that look like a hood.

For teachers: a variety of domestic fancy pigeon characterized by a crest of feathers resembling a nun's cowl.

- The bird watcher pointed out a nun pigeon resting on the garden wall.
- The nun is one of the oldest breeds of fancy pigeon, prized by collectors for its distinctive contrasting plumage and hood-like crest.

## Examples

- The nun spends her morning praying in the garden.
- After years of teaching at the local school, the nun retired to a quiet life of service within the convent.
- The historical records suggest that the nun was instrumental in establishing the infirmary, providing medical care to the surrounding village during the height of the epidemic.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.