Are You Called to Be A Sister or A Nun?

[Francis Coffee]

Catholic Sisters are women who lead active lives of service in a variety of ministries such as education, or health care. Depending on the congregation or order, a Sister serves where her order is called.

Catholic Nuns are women who are cloistered and live contemplatively and prayerfully in an enclosed environment, or monastery. They may leave occasionally for needs such as visit to the doctor, but they are committed to a life of stability.

Both Sisters and Nuns are referred to as Women Religious, but the terms are still often confused.

https://fscc-calledtobe.org/becoming-a-franciscan-sister/called-to-be-a-sister-or-a-nun/

[Nunsuch]

A gentle correction. Monastics such as Benedictines are also nuns, although (especially in the US) not all are enclosed or fully contemplative. To add another dimension to what you have said, this means that "monastic" is not a synonym for "contemplative."

[freedomreigns]

Also, a fair number or sisters will refer to themselves as nuns even though by technicality it isn't accurate. 

[GraceUk]

I don't think it matters these days. Even when it's technically right or wrong.  And eve senclosure seems to have changed. Years ago enclosed nuns werent allowed out hardly at all. Now they seem to go out to meetings and conferences, I think this is quite a good thing in moderation.