nun

This term describes a woman dedicated to a religious life, often characterized by a commitment to spiritual discipline and service. It carries a strong connotation of piety, modesty, and a detachment from worldly desires, evoking images of habits and quiet contemplation.

While the term is most frequently associated with cloistered life in a convent, it also encompasses sisters who operate in the secular world, performing social work, nursing, or teaching. The word is distinct from "monk," which refers to the male equivalent in religious orders.