adj · noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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rhymes with -ɪskən
CMU ARPABET:F R AE0 N S IH1 S K AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Of or pertaining to Saint Francis of Assisi.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Topics: Christianity
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Of 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.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Topics: Christianity
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: Minorite
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A friar of the religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi in 1209, now known as the Order of the Friars Minor.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: Christianity
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
A 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.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: Christianity
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
of or relating to Saint Francis of Assisi or to the order founded by him
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Franciscan monks
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
a Roman Catholic friar wearing the grey habit of the Franciscan order
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: Grey Friar
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: friar, mendicant
History
Etymology
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).
Across languages
Translations
68 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
ֆրանցիսկյան
(francʻiskyan)
— of 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
Asturian:
franciscanu
— of 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
Catalan:
franciscà
— of 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:
františkánský
— of 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:
franciszkański
— of 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:
franciscaans
— of 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:
franciscaner
— of 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
French:
franciscain
— of 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
French:
cordelier
— of 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
Galician:
franciscano
— of 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:
franziskanisch
— of 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
— of 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
— of 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
— of 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:
franciszkański
— of 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
— of 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
— of 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
Serbo-Croatian:
фра́њевачки
— of 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
Serbo-Croatian:
franciskanski
— of 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
Serbo-Croatian:
fránjevački
— of 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
— of 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:
minorita
— of 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:
Ffransisgaidd
— of 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
Armenian:
ֆրանցիսկյան
(francʻiskyan)
— 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
Armenian:
կրտսերական
(krtserakan)
— 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
Asturian:
franciscanu
— 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
Bulgarian:
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
— 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:
franciscana
— 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:
menoret
— 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
Czech:
františkán
— 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
Dutch:
franciscaan
— 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
Dutch:
franciscanes
— 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
Dutch:
fremineur
— 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
Dutch:
minderbroeder
— 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
Esperanto:
franciskano
— 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
Finnish:
fransiskaani
— 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
Finnish:
fransiskaanimunkki
— 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
French:
franciscain
— 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
French:
cordelier
— 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
Galician:
franciscano
— 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
German:
Franziskaner
— 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
German:
Franziskanermönch
— 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
Hungarian:
ferences
— 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
Irish:
Proinsiasach
— 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
Italian:
francescano
— 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
Italian:
cordigliere
— 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
Italian:
fraticello
— 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
Macedonian:
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
Classical Nahuatl:
san Francisco teopixqui
— 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
Norwegian Nynorsk:
fransiskanar
— 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
Polish:
franciszkanin
— 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
Polish:
franciszkanka
— 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
Portuguese:
franciscano
— 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
Portuguese:
franciscana
— 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
Romanian:
franciscan
— 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
Serbo-Croatian:
францѝска̄н
— 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
Serbo-Croatian:
мино̀рӣт
— 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
Serbo-Croatian:
francìskān
— 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
Serbo-Croatian:
franjevac
— 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
Serbo-Croatian:
mali brat
— 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
Serbo-Croatian:
minòrīt
— 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
Spanish:
franciscano
— 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
Spanish:
franciscana
— 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
Spanish:
cordelero
— 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
Spanish:
minorita
— 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
Welsh:
Ffransisgiad
— 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
Welsh:
brawd llwyd
— 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
