Priory vs. Friary — What's the Difference?

A priory is a monastery of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or nuns (such as the Dominicans, Augustinians, Franciscans, and Carmelites), or monasteries of monks or nuns (as with the Benedictines).

A monastery of friars.

A monastery governed by a prior or a convent governed by a prioress.

House or dwelling where friars or members of certain religious communities live

A monastery or convent governed by a prior or prioress.

Like a friar; relating to friars or to a convent.

A religious house presided over by a prior or prioress; - sometimes an offshoot of, an subordinate to, an abbey, and called also cell, and obedience. See Cell, 2.

Like a friar; pertaining to friars or to a convent.

Religious residence in a monastery governed by a prior or a convent governed by a prioress

A monastery; a convent of friars.

The institution or practices of friars.

A monastery of friars