A coenobite refers to a person who lives in a community with other people, usually sharing possessions and living by common rules. Other words used to describe such a person include monk, friar, nun, anchorite, and hermit. A monk is a male coenobite who has dedicated his life to a religious order, while a nun refers to a female coenobite who has taken vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. An anchorite is a person who has shut themselves up in a cell to devote themselves to spiritual development. Finally, a hermit refers to a person who chooses to live in isolation, away from society, in search of spiritual or religious truth.