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

The monks tie a thin coord around our neck - a simple thread to protect us on the mountain. —Cecilia Vega, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025

In 13th century England, monks began drinking posset with eggs and figs, Time Magazine noted. —Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 16 Dec. 2025

On good days, Mani meditated, drank water, tidied his apartment, and listened to monk sermons. —Literary Hub, 16 Dec. 2025

Midway through, Clinton is bumped off at a monastery while dressed as a monk in Raquel Welch drag, and his guests must unravel the crime. —Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2025

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

Rhymes for monk

• bunk
• chunk
• clunk
• drunk
• dunk
• hunk
• junk
• punk
• shrunk
• slunk
• spunk
• sunk

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