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
Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025
With a frill-less monastic setting, this institution has several London locations, but Smithfield is the OG, serving signature dishes like roasted bone marrow and oven-hot madeleines available by the dozen and half dozen.
—Nicole Trilivas, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2025
Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025
As the numbers of women at the highest echelons of learning continue to grow, women will likewise expand their ability to take leadership roles in their monastic and lay communities – helping to improve other nuns’ education and protecting Tibetan culture in the process.
—Darcie Price-Wallace, The Conversation, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for monastic
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Adjective
Delas Francois de Tournon is named for the monastic order of Jesuits who resided in this area in the 17th century.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025
With a frill-less monastic setting, this institution has several London locations, but Smithfield is the OG, serving signature dishes like roasted bone marrow and oven-hot madeleines available by the dozen and half dozen.
—Nicole Trilivas, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2025
Noun
These people who see the theater as almost a monastic calling something of a higher order, and they’re brilliantly educated and funny.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025
As the numbers of women at the highest echelons of learning continue to grow, women will likewise expand their ability to take leadership roles in their monastic and lay communities – helping to improve other nuns’ education and protecting Tibetan culture in the process.
—Darcie Price-Wallace, The Conversation, 26 Sep. 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 4 Nov. 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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