What does "quaker" mean?
A believer of the Quaker faith and a member of the Society of Friends, known for their pacifist views.
Quaker
/ˈkweɪkə/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A believer of the Quaker faith and a member of the Society of Friends, known for their pacifist views.
- Grammar: quaker is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: friend, earthquake, friends-related, quake.
- Useful contrasts: nonmember, nonreligious, nonsectarian.
- Usage evidence: William Penn was not born a Quaker.
How to use "quaker"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "quaker" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "quaker" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "quaker" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "quaker" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "quaker" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "friend" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "quaker", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A believer of the Quaker faith and a member of the Society of Friends, known for their pacifist views.
"The demon of fanaticism was the shape which it took with us; and verily, what with religious republicans, harmonists, quakers, fifth-monarchy men, Presbyterians, and the reign of the saints upon earth, it needs the strong hand of a Cromwell to reduce the spiritual chaos to any sort of order."
- 2 A player of any game in the Quake series of first-person shooters.
- 3 Alternative letter-case form of Quaker. alt-of
"The timid and trimming politics of some men of large property here have almost done their business for them. They have lost their influence, and grown obnoxious. The quakers and proprietarians together have little weight. New Jersey shows a noble ardor. Is there any thing in the air or soil of New York unfriendly to the spirit of liberty?"
- 4 a member of the Religious Society of Friends founded by George Fox (the Friends have never called themselves Quakers) wordnet
- 5 Any of various lycaenid butterflies of the genus Pithecops.
Show 1 more definition
- 6 one who quakes and trembles with (or as with) fear wordnet
Example
"William Penn was not born a Quaker."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "quaker"?
Common synonyms include: friend, earthquake, friends-related, quake, quakerish, quakerly.
How do you use "quaker" in a sentence?
William Penn was not born a Quaker.
How do you pronounce "quaker"?
Pronounced /ˈkweɪkə/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From quake + -er; a name given to members of the Religious Society of Friends, supposedly by the magistrates Gervase Bennet and Nathaniel Barton, when George Fox "bade them tremble at the word of the Lord"; the term was previously applied to certain people who trembled or quaked during religious devotions.
Etymology 2
Quake + -er, but likely inspired by the original noun.