religious order

1. In Christianity, a group of men or women who live under religious vows. The three vows commonly taken are to relinquish all possessions and personal authority (vows of poverty and obedience) and not to engage in sexual relations (a vow of chastity). Religious orders are found in the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, and, although rarely, in Protestant churches. The Franciscans, Jesuits, and Trappists are religious orders.

Example Sentences

"My team went out and negotiated with the religious orders, the adoption agencies, all the various stakeholders and record data controllers," she said.

From BBC

The religious order has made a contribution of £2.14m towards the cost of the excavation.

From BBC

A religious order ran the institution, at a time of moral taboos when there was a social stigma around pregnancies outside of marriage.

From BBC

The young Robert Prevost became a missionary in Peru for the Augustinians before going to Rome to head the religious order, which focuses on helping the marginalized of society.

From Los Angeles Times

The priest was later moved and the religious order says it has tried to be transparent.

From BBC