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
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; see mon-, -ic: cf. 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 his monastic clarity led to magical products.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 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
It’s a reminder of centuries of tradition, monastic practices, and skilled farmers shading tea fields by hand.
From Salon • Jul. 31, 2025
In 1845, as part of his monastic education, Mendel attended classes in theology, history, and natural sciences at Brno’s Theological College.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
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.
