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

When formulating the Ethiopian calendar, a monk named Panorodos placed the birth of Christ, the calendar’s beginning point, at eight years later than other scholars. —Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024

At one point, a Thai monk walked up to us and handed Victoria a leaf. —Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2024

The monks in charge of the site conducted a funeral mass for him, marking his symbolic death. —Lanta Davis and Vince Reighard, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Mar. 2024

But there was nothing like that, just the usual tasting-menu layout, a counter of banded marble facing a stainless steel kitchen where half a dozen cooks in white jackets stood intently over rows of white porcelain bowls, heads bowed like monks. —Pete Wells, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024

And [director] Vittorio de Sica changed it, and said, The clothes do make the monk. —As Told To Vogue, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024

One of the first comes from an Italian monk named Restoro d'Arezzo, who observed an eclipse in 1239. —Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 19 Mar. 2024

Zen monks returning from China brought the powder home, using it as a medicine and a stimulant. —Paul S. Atkins, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2024

Things to Consider This powder contains the sweetener monk fruit, which can have a very sweet taste that some people may dislike. —Britannay Scanniello, Verywell Health, 1 Mar. 2024

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

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