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Definition of monk

monk

/mʌŋk/
monk
Adverb:monkishly
•
Plural:monks
•
Adjective:monkish
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monk Lexical Profile

monk Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A male member of a religious community who lives under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, typically in a monastery secluded from the outside world.

Example

"The young monk spent his mornings transcribing ancient manuscripts in the quiet scriptorium of the abbey."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for monk

Word Nuance & Usage

In Christian usage, a 'monk' traditionally lives in a secluded monastery focused on contemplation, whereas a 'friar' belongs to a mendicant order that actively ministers to the broader community.

• Rhymes for monk

• Nearby Words

moniker
monitor
monitor lizard
monk
monkey
monkey flower
monkeypox

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'munuc', borrowed from Late Latin 'monachus', which derives from Ancient Greek 'monakhos' meaning 'solitary' or 'single' (from 'monos', meaning 'alone').

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Monk. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/monk
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