Benedictine

American  

[ben-i-dik-tin, -teen, -tahyn, ben-i-dik-teen] / ˌbɛn ɪˈdɪk tɪn, -tin, -taɪn, ˌbɛn ɪˈdɪk tin /

noun

1. Roman Catholic Church.

   1. a member of an order of monks founded at Monte Cassino by St. Benedict about a.d. 530.

   2. a member of any congregation of nuns following the rule of St. Benedict.

2. a French liqueur originally made by Benedictine monks.

---

adjective

1. of or relating to St. Benedict or the Benedictines.

Benedictine British  

noun

1. a monk or nun who is a member of a Christian religious community founded by or following the rule of Saint Benedict

2. a greenish-yellow liqueur made from a secret formula developed at the Benedictine monastery at Fécamp in France in about 1510

---

adjective

1. of or relating to Saint Benedict, his order, or his rule

Etymology

Origin of Benedictine

1620–30; St. Benedict + -ine ¹

Example Sentences

Services across the river were recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, with Benedictine monks from Birkenhead Priory running the first regular ferries to Liverpool's markets in the 12th Century.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

She introduces an 11th-century Benedictine monk named Guido, who taught his singing students about “the intervals between notes” by pointing to different parts of his hand.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

More than a week after making headlines with his controversial commencement address at Benedictine College, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker attended his team’s first day of voluntary workouts.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2024

An article on Benedictine College’s website about the commencement ceremony had initially referred to Butker’s speech as “inspiring.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2024

One monk wore the black robes of the Benedictine order.

From "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" by Avi