mo·nas·tic
mə-ˈna-stik 
1
: of or relating to monasteries or to monks or nuns
the rituals of monastic life
2
: resembling (as in seclusion or ascetic simplicity) life in a monastery
shows a monastic dedication to his job
plural monastics
: a member of a monastic order : a person (such as a monk) who lives under religious vows
Monastics are people who … every day try hard to become part of a community—to relinquish aspects of the very egoism the rest of us spend our lives, in various ways, trying to enhance.—
Robert Coles
Robert ColesExamples of monastic in a Sentence
Adjective
He founded a monastic order in Belgium.
He shows a monastic dedication to his job.
She studied for the test with monastic zeal.
Recent Examples on the Web
Bernd Roeck
june 16, Literary Hub, 16 June 2025
The Order of Cistercians was part of the Roman Catholic monastic order founded in 1098.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025
Brooke Schedneck, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2025
While the Thai Buddhism depicted in The White Lotus is not completely realistic, there are several authentic ways to engage deeply with Buddhism, ranging from offering donations to short meditation retreats to ordination as a monastic.
—Brooke Schedneck, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for monastic
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Adjective
Nevertheless, the small band of monastic scribes did manage to preserve and pass on a great deal of ancient literature.
—Bernd Roeck
june 16, Literary Hub, 16 June 2025
The Order of Cistercians was part of the Roman Catholic monastic order founded in 1098.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025
Noun
While the Thai Buddhism depicted in The White Lotus is not completely realistic, there are several authentic ways to engage deeply with Buddhism, ranging from offering donations to short meditation retreats to ordination as a monastic.
—Brooke Schedneck, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2025
While the Thai Buddhism depicted in The White Lotus is not completely realistic, there are several authentic ways to engage deeply with Buddhism, ranging from offering donations to short meditation retreats to ordination as a monastic.
—Brooke Schedneck, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for monastic
Cite this Entry
“Monastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monastic. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
monastic
adjective
mo·nas·tic
mə-ˈnas-tik
1
: of or relating to monks or monasteries
2
: resembling life in a monastery
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