monk

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈməŋk 

: a man who is a member of a religious order and lives in a monastery

also : friar

monk

2 of 2

noun (2)

: monkey

Examples of monk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But monks there complained that the slain king was walking around at night, frightening them with strange sounds. —Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026

The reunion was clearly emotional for the group, and the monks stayed at the temple for a longer period of time than other stops, and took more time for rest and recovery. —Irene Wright, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026

In a photo shared on Aloka’s personal Instagram (currently sitting at 144,000 followers), the dog is seen walking ahead of the monks in a bright green jacket. —Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026

Many of the guest rooms are former monks' quarters, and Italian architect Valentina Pisani, who oversaw the interiors, carefully maintained their history as sanctuary-like spaces while ensuring that every 21st-century luxury was accounted for. —Hannah Chubb, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English munuc, from Late Latin monachus, from Late Greek monachos, from Greek, adjective, single, from monos single, alone

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1841, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing monk

• monk parakeet
• monk's cloth
• monk seal

Rhymes for monk

• bunk
• chunk
• clunk
• drunk
• dunk
• hunk
• junk
• punk
• shrunk
• slunk
• spunk
• sunk

Kids Definition

monk

noun

ˈməŋk

: a member of a religious community made up of men who agree to give up worldly life, remain poor and unmarried, and obey all laws of their community

monkish

ˈməŋ-kish

adjective

Biographical Definition

Monk

biographical name

ˈməŋk 

Thelonious Sphere 1920–1982 American jazz musician