A friar is a member of a religious mendicant order of men. This term is particularly appropriate for members of these four orders: Augustinians, Carmelites, Dominicans and Franciscans.

Friars differ from monks in that they are called to a life of poverty in service to a community, rather than cloistered asceticism and devotion.

Its etymology is from Old French frere (brother) which in turn comes from Latin frater.