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 great Derek Jacobi plays the titular 12th century monk who was once a soldier of the Crusades. —Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026

The Cammino di San Nilo is an ancient eight-day trail through Cilento National Park, following the footsteps of Saint Nilo of Rossano, a Greco-Italian monk from the 11th century. —Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026

Cammino di San Nilo, Italy The Cammino di San Nilo is an ancient trail through Cilento National Park that follows the footsteps of Saint Nilo of Rossano, a Greco-Italian monk from the 11th century. —Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026

The quest began with Shaolin monks and southwestern jackals. —Esfandiar Baraheni, New York Times, 3 June 2026

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