monastic
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to monasteries.
a monastic library.
-
of, relating to, or characteristic of monks or nuns, their manner of life, or their religious obligations.
monastic vows.
-
of, relating to, or characteristic of a secluded, dedicated, or austere manner of living.
noun
adjective
-
of or relating to monasteries or monks, nuns, etc
-
resembling this sort of life; reclusive
noun
Other Word Forms
- monastically adverb
- nonmonastic adjective
- nonmonastically adverb
- pseudomonastic adjective
- pseudomonastical adjective
- pseudomonastically adverb
- semimonastic adjective
- unmonastic adjective
- unmonastically adverb
Etymology
Origin of monastic
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English monastik, from Middle French monastique or directly from Late Latin monasticus, from Late Greek monastikós, equivalent to monas- (derivative of monázein “to be alone, live alone”) + -ikos adjective suffix, with -t- by analogy with derivatives of agent nouns in -tēs; mon-, -ic: athlete )
Explanation
Monastic means like in a monastery. So what is it like in a monastery? Well, it's solitary, somewhat isolated, plain, and disciplined. If you take monastic vows, you promise to live this way. Being monastic might sound like a strange or a hard thing to be, but you can compare it to student life very well. Both monks and students spend a lot of time studying books. Monks like quiet, and students need quiet to get work done. Monks live in a community devoted to religion, and students study in a community devoted to learning. The stereotypical party lifestyle of a student isn't very monastic though.
Vocabulary lists containing monastic
Vocabulary Video Contest (2013) - List 1
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As You Like It
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Content Summary 2.2: South Asian States and Dharmic Religions
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“We continue discerning with our Order where to live our Cistercian monastic life, keeping you informed as this process unfolds,” they said.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 24, 2026
And then as I say in the book, I came home and turned on the TV and saw a documentary about Thomas Merton, the Trappist monk, and monastic life and the priesthood.
From Slate • Feb. 21, 2026
Bob’s Red Mill Muesli “I like the slightly monastic vibe of just having muesli. But also, this is a very good-tasting brand.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 26, 2026
At age 24, Laxe moved to Tangier, Morocco, where he would live for 12 years at a monastic remove from the glamour of the movies, collaborating with local children on his films.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 6, 2025
Her uncle seems almost a child, monastic in the modesty of his needs and wholly independent of any sort of temporal obligations.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
