Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

cenobite

noun
ce·​no·​bite | \ˈse-nə-ˌbīt, ˈsē-\
variants: or less commonly

Definition of cenobite 

: a member of a religious group living together in a monastic community

Other Words from cenobite

cenobitic \ ˌse-​nə-​ˈbi-​tik , ˌsē-​ \ adjective

First Known Use of cenobite

15th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for cenobite

Late Latin coenobita, from coenobium monastery, from Late Greek koinobion, ultimately from Greek koin- coen- + bios life — more at quick entry 1

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about cenobite

Dictionary Entries near cenobite

cenobe

cenobian

cenobiar

cenobite

cenobitism

cenobium

cenoby

Statistics for cenobite

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for cenobite

The first known use of cenobite was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

More from Merriam-Webster on cenobite

See words that rhyme with cenobite

Comments on cenobite

What made you want to look up cenobite? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

chapel

a private place of worship

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Difficult Vocab Quiz

  • the-education-of-achilles-eugne-delacroix
  • Which is a synonym of discomfit?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games