Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A Christian denomination: The Religious Society of Friends is a Christian group established by George Fox around the year 1660. Its members are commonly known as Quakers.

Usage

• The term "Religious Society of Friends" is used as the official name of the denomination. It is often used in formal, historical, or academic contexts.
• In everyday language, the term "Quakers" is more frequently used to refer to the members or the group itself.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "The Society of Friends": A common shortened form of the full name.
  • He wrote a history of the Society of Friends in America.

Variants and Related Words

• Quakers (noun): The common name for members of the Religious Society of Friends.
  • The Quakers played a significant role in social reform movements.
• Quakerism (noun): The beliefs and practices of the Religious Society of Friends.
  • His thesis is a study of 18th-century Quakerism.

Synonyms

• Quakers
• Friends (when used in a religious context, often capitalized)

Notes

• The Religious Society of Friends is distinct from other Christian groups in its lack of formal clergy, its emphasis on direct spiritual experience (the "Inner Light"), and its traditional commitment to pacifism and social justice.

Noun

1. a Christian sect founded by George Fox about 1660; commonly called Quakers