monastic

1 of 2

adjective

mo·​nas·​tic mə-ˈna-stik How to pronounce monastic (audio)
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
monastically adverb
monasticism noun

monastic

2 of 2

noun

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

Examples 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
Adjective
In the years leading up to his death, from complications due to AIDS, at the age of thirty-one, the crowds kept getting bigger, but his process stayed the same: steady hand, monastic concentration. Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 The sound of the waves and the gurgle of cascading water radiate a monastic serenity; the spa has a fine selection of hot-stone and deep-tissue massages. Chandrahas Choudhury, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Mar. 2024 The great Kōji Yakusho plays a middle-aged man living a life of monastic austerity, greeting each new day with gratitude in his morning routine and approaching his job of cleaning restrooms in the city’s public parks with almost religious devotion. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Dec. 2023 Known as Il Monastero, the 5,900-square-foot residence certainly feels secluded and monastic. Mark David, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2023 Among the New York literary set, Kempton’s monastic turn was a source of wonder and occasional derision. Sasha Weiss, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2023 The origin of the most famous tequila cocktail may be one of the world’s great mysteries, but at the monastic San Ángel Inn, a converted early-17th-century hacienda, there’s no question that the margarita has been on the menu since the restaurant opened its doors in 1963. Jorge Valencia Mariano Fernandez, New York Times, 14 Nov. 2023 The apartment’s multiple (real) white arches produce an almost monastic atmosphere in photographs, but the inspiration was less ecclesiastical than elemental. Lucy Alexander, Robb Report, 29 Oct. 2023 Are we supposed to indulge the pretense that Democrats and the press will, in the interim, adhere to monastic silence about January 6, the charges, and Trump’s culpability? The Editors, National Review, 18 Oct. 2023
Noun
Over the past 2,000 years, Buddhist teachings have encountered distortions and alterations due to mistranslation and misinterpretation of Buddha-dharma by Buddhist patriarchs, eminent monastics, and Buddhist scholars. Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 25 July 2023 The Buddhist monastery founded by Thich Nhat Hanh regularly hosts retreats — multiple days of mindfulness practice — incorporating music and poetry for both monastics and non-monastics. Abigail Lee, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Apr. 2023 For the monastics at Hsi Lai Temple, meditation isn’t a singular activity. Ada Tseng, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'monastic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1563, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1632, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of monastic was circa 1563

Dictionary Entries Near monastic

Cite this Entry

“Monastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monastic. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

monastic

adjective
mo·​nas·​tic mə-ˈnas-tik How to pronounce monastic (audio)
1
: of or relating to monks or monasteries
2
: resembling life in a monastery
monastic noun
monastically adverb
monasticism noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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