Franciscan

Fran·cisc·an
F4R1A1N1C3I1S1C3A1N1
US, UK/fɹænˈsɪsk(ə)n/

noun

A friar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi in 1209, now known as the Order of the Friars Minor.

Similar
CordelierFriar MinorMinoriteObservantCapuchinConventualgreyfriarClarisse
OriginLate Latin Franciscānus ← Latin -ānus →
Less commonScrabble 17
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Meanings

nounFranciscan (plural Franciscans)

plural Franciscans

  1. ChristianityA friar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi in 1209, now known as the Order of the Friars Minor.

    [O]ur old antient Purgatory pick-purſe, that vvas ſvvaged and covvled vvith a Franciſcan’s covvl, […]

    1536 June 15 (Gregorian calendar), Hugh Latimer, “Sermon II. By the Reverend Father in Christ Master Hugh Latimer Bishop of Worcester. Preached to the Convocation of the Clergy, before the Parliament Began, the Sixth Day of June, the Twenty Eighth Year of the Reign of the Late Henry VIII. […] [Master Latimer’s Discourse on the Same Day in the Afternoon. Luke XVI. 8.].”, in The Sermons of the Right Reverend Father in God, Master Hugh Latimer, Bishop of Worcester. […], volume I, London: […] J. Scott, […], published 1758, →OCLC, page 30
    3 more examples

    [A] ſilly iealous fellovve, that ſeeing his child nevv borne included in a kell [i.e., caul], thought ſure a Franciſcan that vſed to come to his houſe, vvas the father of it, it vvas ſo like a Friers Covvle, and therevpon threatned the Frier to kill him.

    1621, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “Prognosticks of Iealosie, Despaire, Madnesse, to Make away Themselues and Others”, in The Anatomy of Melancholy, […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and Iames Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition 3, section 3, member 3, page 688

    We tried the Franciscans. The Jesuits. The Paulists. The Trappists. The Benedictines. […] Not one Franciscan in this city can make a positive identification of this bearded American priest. Every Franciscan we talked to was sure this man was not a member of their order. Yet he wears their habit and he heard confessions in one of their most important churches.

    1995 July, Pat Conroy, chapter 19, in Beach Music, New York, N.Y.: Nan A[hearn] Talese, Doubleday, →ISBN, page 265

    [T]he cities were growing rapidly, but the urban parish system was not, so when Franciscans entered the cities to preach, they encountered a substantial population in need not only of preaching but also of pastoral care.

    2001, David Burr, “The Franciscan Dilemma”, in The Spiritual Franciscans: From Protest to Persecution in the Century after Saint Francis, University Park, Pa.: The Pennsylvania State University Press, →ISBN, page 4

    Synonyms: Cordelier, Friar Minor, Minorite, Observant

  2. ChristianityA friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi's original order, such as (Roman Catholicism) the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (for men), Order of Friars Minor Conventual (men), Order of Saint Clare (women), or the Third Order of Saint Francis (men and women); or (Protestantism) certain orders in some Protestant churches, especially the Anglican Church and the Lutheran Church.

    Synonyms: Capuchin, Conventual, greyfriar, Minorite, Clarisse, Clarissine, Minoress, Poor Clare

adjectiveFranciscan (not comparable)
  1. not comparableChristianityOf or pertaining to Saint Francis of Assisi.
  2. not comparableChristianityOf or pertaining to (Roman Catholicism) the Order of the Friars Minor, or (Protestantism, Roman Catholicism) to another religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi's original order.

    Holy Franciſcan Frier, brother, ho.

    c. 1591–1595 (date written), [William Shakespeare], […] Romeo and Iuliet. […] (Second Quarto), London: […] Thomas Creede, for Cuthbert Burby, […], published 1599, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii], signature L, recto
    4 more examples

    In his life time hee [Henry VII of England] founded the goodly Hoſpitall of the Sauoy, built ſixe religious Houſes for Franciſcan Friers, three of them for Obſeruants, and the other three for Conuentuals.

    1611, Iohn Speed [i.e., John Speed], “Henrie the Seventh, King of England and France, […]”, in The History of Great Britaine under the Conquests of yͤ Romans, Saxons, Danes and Normans. […], London: […] William Hall and John Beale, for John Sudbury and George Humble, […], →OCLC, book IX ([Englands Monarchs] […]), paragraph 72, page 751, column 1

    And they vvho to be ſure of Paradiſe / Dying put on the vveeds of Dominic, / Or in Franciſcan think to paſs diſguis'd; […]

    1667, John Milton, “Book III”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC, signature K2, verso, lines 478–480

    So much for the firſt claſs of the Mendicants. The moſt numerous is the Serafic, or Franciſcan order, divided into as many ſpecies as pleaſed the fancies of the founders.

    1797, Robert Southey, “Of the State of Portugal”, in Letters Written during a Short Residence in Spain and Portugal, […], Bristol: […] Bulgin and Rosser, for Joseph Cottle, […], and G[eorge] G[eorge] and J[ohn] Robinson, and Cadell and Davies, […], →OCLC, page 418

    There, a Franciscan friar named Andrés Ivars asked that Fr. Císcar hear his confession before the friar was executed be firing squad.

    2017 December 16, “These priests were martyred for refusing to violate the seal of confession”, in Catholic News Agency

    Synonyms: Minorite

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA friar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi in 1209, now known as the Order of the Friars Minor.

Similar
CordelierFriar MinorMinoriteObservant

nounA friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi's original order, such as (Roman Catholicism) the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (for men), Order of Friars Minor Conventual (men), Order of Saint Clare (women), or the Third Order of Saint Francis (men and women); or (Protestantism) certain orders in some Protestant churches, especially the Anglican Church and the Lutheran Church.

Similar
CapuchinConventualgreyfriarMinoriteClarisseClarissineMinoressPoor Clare

adjectiveOf or pertaining to (Roman Catholicism) the Order of the Friars Minor, or (Protestantism, Roman Catholicism) to another religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi's original order.

Similar
Minorite

More synonyms by meaning

nouna Roman Catholic friar wearing the grey habit of the Franciscan order

Similar
Grey Friar
Broader
friarmendicant
Also see
friar minorgreyfriarminorite

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latin-ānus
  2. Late LatinFranciscānus“(noun) friar of the order of Saint Francis; (adjective) of or from the order of Saint Francis”
  3. EnglishFranciscan

Learned borrowing from Late Latin Franciscānus (“(noun) friar of the order of Saint Francis; (adjective) of or from the order of Saint Francis”) + English -an (suffix forming agent nouns; and meaning ‘of or pertaining to’ forming adjectives). Franciscānus is derived from Franciscus (“the given name Francis, the name of Saint Francis of Assisi (c. 1181 – 1226)”) + Latin -ānus (suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’, denoting relationships of origin, position, or possession); and Franciscus from Francia (“region inhabited or ruled over by the Franka, Frankia”) (apparently a nickname from Francis’s father, an Italian merchant who worked in France) + -iscus (suffix forming adjectives).

More words from Late Latin, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian францисканец
  • францисканец (franciskanec)friar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
Catalan franciscà, franciscana
  • franciscàfriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • franciscanafriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • menoretfriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • franciscàof or pertaining to Saint Francis of Assisi; of or pertaining to the Order of the Friars Minor, or to another religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
Czech františkán, františkánský
  • františkánfriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • františkánskýof or pertaining to Saint Francis of Assisi; of or pertaining to the Order of the Friars Minor, or to another religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • franciszkańskiof or pertaining to Saint Francis of Assisi; of or pertaining to the Order of the Friars Minor, or to another religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
Dutch franciscaan, franciscanes
  • franciscaanfriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • franciscanesfriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • fremineurfriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • minderbroederfriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • franciscaansof or pertaining to Saint Francis of Assisi; of or pertaining to the Order of the Friars Minor, or to another religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • franciscanerof or pertaining to Saint Francis of Assisi; of or pertaining to the Order of the Friars Minor, or to another religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
Esperanto franciskano
  • franciskanofriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
Finnish fransiskaani, fransiskaanimunkki
  • fransiskaanifriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • fransiskaanimunkkifriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
French franciscain, cordelier
  • franciscainfriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • cordelierfriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • franciscainof or pertaining to Saint Francis of Assisi; of or pertaining to the Order of the Friars Minor, or to another religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • cordelierof or pertaining to Saint Francis of Assisi; of or pertaining to the Order of the Friars Minor, or to another religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
German Franziskaner, Franziskanermönch
  • Franziskanerfriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • Franziskanermönchfriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • franziskanischof or pertaining to Saint Francis of Assisi; of or pertaining to the Order of the Friars Minor, or to another religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
Hungarian ferences, ferences
  • ferencesfriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • ferencesof or pertaining to Saint Francis of Assisi; of or pertaining to the Order of the Friars Minor, or to another religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
Irish Proinsiasach, Proinsiasach
  • Proinsiasachfriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • Proinsiasachof or pertaining to Saint Francis of Assisi; of or pertaining to the Order of the Friars Minor, or to another religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
Italian francescano, cordigliere
  • francescanofriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • cordiglierefriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • fraticellofriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • francescanoof or pertaining to Saint Francis of Assisi; of or pertaining to the Order of the Friars Minor, or to another religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
Polish franciszkanin, franciszkanka
  • franciszkaninfriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • franciszkankafriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • franciszkańskiof or pertaining to Saint Francis of Assisi; of or pertaining to the Order of the Friars Minor, or to another religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
Portuguese franciscano, franciscana
  • franciscanofriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • franciscanafriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • franciscanoof or pertaining to Saint Francis of Assisi; of or pertaining to the Order of the Friars Minor, or to another religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
Romanian franciscan, franciscan
  • franciscanfriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • franciscanof or pertaining to Saint Francis of Assisi; of or pertaining to the Order of the Friars Minor, or to another religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
Spanish franciscano, franciscana
  • franciscanofriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • franciscanafriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • cordelerofriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • minoritafriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • franciscanoof or pertaining to Saint Francis of Assisi; of or pertaining to the Order of the Friars Minor, or to another religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • minoritaof or pertaining to Saint Francis of Assisi; of or pertaining to the Order of the Friars Minor, or to another religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
Welsh Ffransisgiad, brawd llwyd
  • Ffransisgiadfriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • brawd llwydfriar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi; friar or nun of a religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
  • Ffransisgaiddof or pertaining to Saint Francis of Assisi; of or pertaining to the Order of the Friars Minor, or to another religious order based on the rule of Francis of Assisi’s original order
Cite this entry
APA

Franciscan. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Franciscan

MLA

“Franciscan.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Franciscan. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Franciscan,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Franciscan.

Source: Franciscan on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.