Nun vs. Sister — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 23, 2023
A nun is a woman who takes solemn vows in a religious order and typically lives in a monastery or convent. A sister is a woman who takes simple vows and often engages in active ministry outside the convent.
Difference Between Nun and Sister
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A nun is a woman who belongs to a religious order, often living in a convent, and who has usually taken solemn vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. The term "nun" usually implies a more cloistered, contemplative life focused on prayer and spiritual growth. A sister, on the other hand, is also a woman belonging to a religious community, but she usually takes what are known as "simple vows" and might not live in a convent.
Both nuns and sisters are committed to a religious life, but their roles and responsibilities can differ significantly. Nuns often spend more time in prayer and contemplation, devoting their lives to spiritual matters within the confines of a monastery or convent. Sisters are generally more active in community service, such as education, healthcare, or social work, while still maintaining a strong prayer life.
While both nuns and sisters are religious figures within the Christian faith, primarily in the Catholic, Anglican, and Eastern Orthodox traditions, their public visibility often differs. Nuns, due to their more contemplative lifestyle, may not be as publicly visible as sisters, who are often involved in community outreach and service projects.
The terms "nun" and "sister" are sometimes used interchangeably, but doing so overlooks the nuanced differences between the two. The primary distinction lies in the nature and complexity of their vows, the lifestyle they lead, and the degree to which they engage with the broader community.
Comparison Chart
Type of Vows
Solemn vows
Simple vows
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Lifestyle
More cloistered, contemplative
More active in the community
Common Occupations
Prayer, contemplation
Education, healthcare, social work
Living Arrangement
Often in a convent or monastery
May or may not live in a religious community
Public Visibility
Generally less visible
More publicly visible due to community service
Compare with Definitions
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken solemn vows in a religious community.
The nun devoted her life to prayer and spiritual growth within the convent.
Sister
A sister is a woman who has taken simple vows in a religious community.
The sister worked in the community hospital, providing care to the sick.
Nun
Nuns often belong to specific religious orders.
She became a Carmelite nun, following the order's strict rule of life.
Sister
A sister is a woman or girl who shares one or more parents with another individual. The male counterpart is a brother.
Nun
Nuns often live a cloistered, contemplative lifestyle.
The nun spent several hours each day in meditation and prayer.
Sister
A female having the same parents as another or one parent in common with another.
Nun
Nuns usually reside in convents or monasteries.
The convent was home to 20 nuns who lived a secluded life.
Sister
A kinswoman.
Nun
A nun is a member of a religious community of women, typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the enclosure of a monastery. Communities of nuns exist in numerous religious traditions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Jainism, and Taoism.
Sister
A woman fellow member, as of a sorority.
Nun
A member of a religious community of women, typically one living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
Sister
A fellow woman.
Nun
Any of a number of birds whose plumage resembles a nun's habit, especially an Asian mannikin.
Sister
A close woman friend or companion.
Nun
A woman who belongs to a religious order or congregation devoted to active service or meditation, typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
Sister
A fellow African American woman or girl.
Nun
The 14th letter of the Hebrew alphabet. See Table at alphabet.
Sister
A woman who advocates, fosters, or takes part in the feminist movement.
Nun
A member of a Christian religious community of women who live by certain vows and usually wear a habit, those living together in a cloister.
Sister
(Informal) Used as a form of address for a woman or girl.
Nun
(by extension) A member of a similar female community in other confessions.
A Buddhist nun
Sister
A member of a religious order of women; a nun.
Nun
A prostitute.
Sister
Used as a form of address for such a woman, alone or followed by the woman's name.
Nun
A kind of pigeon with the feathers on its head like the hood of a nun.
Sister
Chiefly British A nurse, especially the head nurse in a ward.
Nun
The fourteenth letter of many Semitic alphabets/abjads (Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew, Syriac, Arabic and others).
Sister
One identified as female and closely related to another
“the sisters Death and Night” (Walt Whitman).
Nun
A woman devoted to a religious life, who lives in a convent, under the three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
They holy time is quiet as a nunBreathless with adoration.
Sister
(Architecture) A beam or other structural member affixed to another as a supplementary support.
Nun
A white variety of domestic pigeons having a veil of feathers covering the head.
Sister
Related by or as if by sisterhood; closely related
Sister ships.
Sister cities.
Nun
The 14th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, corresponding in pronunciation to n.
Sister
(Genetics) Of or being one of an identical, related, or homologous pair
Sister chromatids.
Nun
The 25th letter of the Arabic alphabet, corresponding in pronunciation to n.
Sister
(Architecture) To affix a beam or other structural member to (another) as a supplementary support.
Nun
A woman religious
Sister
A daughter of the same parents as another person; a female sibling.
My sister is always driving me crazy.
Nun
A buoy resembling a cone
Sister
A female member of a religious order; especially one devoted to more active service; (informally) a nun.
Michelle left behind her bank job and became a sister at the local convent.
Nun
The 14th letter of the Hebrew alphabet
Sister
Any butterfly in the genus Adelpha, so named for the resemblance of the dark-colored wings to the black habit traditionally worn by nuns.
Nun
Nuns are less likely to be involved in active community service.
Unlike the sisters, the nuns in the convent focused more on contemplative practices.
Sister
(British) A senior or supervisory nurse, often in a hospital.
Sister
Any woman or girl with whom a bond is felt through common membership in a community, race, profession, religion, organization, or ism.
Connie was very close to her friend Judy and considered her to be her sister.
Sister
A black woman.
Sister
(informal) A form of address to a woman.
What’s up, sister?
Sister
A woman, in certain religious, labour or socialist circles; also as a form of address.
Thank you, sister. I would like to thank the sister who just spoke.
Sister
(attributively) An entity that has a special or affectionate, non-hierarchical relationship with another.
Sister publication
Sister city
Sister projects
Sister
(comptheory) A node in a data structure that shares its parent with another node.
Sister
Something in the same class.
Sister ships
Sister facility
Sister
To strengthen (a supporting beam) by fastening a second beam alongside it.
I’m trying to correct my sagging floor by sistering the joists.
Sister
To be sister to; to resemble closely.
Sister
A female who has the same parents with another person, or who has one of them only. In the latter case, she is more definitely called a half sister. The correlative of brother.
I am the sister of one Claudio.
Sister
A woman who is closely allied to, or assocciated with, another person, as in the sdame faith, society, order, or community.
Sister
One of the same kind, or of the same condition; - generally used adjectively; as, sister fruits.
Sister
To be sister to; to resemble closely.
Sister
A female person who has the same parents as another person;
My sister married a musician
Sister
(Roman Catholic Church) a title given to a nun (and used as a form of address);
The Sisters taught her to love God
Sister
A female person who is a fellow member of a sorority or labor union or other group;
None of her sisters would betray her
Sister
Sometimes used as a term of address for attractive young women
Sister
Sisters are often active in community service.
The sister organized a food drive for the needy.
Sister
Sisters may or may not live in a religious community.
The sister lived in a small apartment near her place of work.
Sister
Sisters often focus on outreach and education.
The sister taught at the local Catholic school.
Sister
Sisters maintain a strong commitment to prayer and spiritual life.
Despite her busy schedule, the sister always found time for daily prayer.
Common Curiosities
Do Nuns and Sisters take the same vows?
No, nuns usually take solemn vows, while sisters take simple vows.
Can Nuns work in the community like Sisters?
Generally, nuns are less involved in community service, focusing more on a contemplative life.
What is a Nun?
A nun is a woman who has taken solemn vows and usually lives in a convent, focusing on prayer and spiritual growth.
What is a Sister?
A sister is a woman in a religious community who has taken simple vows and often engages in community service.
Can Sisters live in a convent like Nuns?
Some do, but sisters are not required to live in a convent or monastery.
What do Nuns typically do?
Nuns typically focus on prayer, contemplation, and spiritual growth within a religious community.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
