monkery

[muhng-kuh-ree]

noun, plural monk·er·ies. Disparaging.

the mode of life, behavior, etc., of monks; monastic life.
a monastery.
monkeries, the practices, beliefs, etc., of monks.

Origin of monkery

First recorded in 1530–40; monk + -ery

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for monkery

Historical Examples of monkery

If the salt of the earth––but not to the nunnery nor to the monkery, we go.
The Book of Khalid
Ameen Rihani
If ever monk had got to heaven by monkery, I had been that monk.
History of the Reformation in the Sixteenth Century (Volume 1)
J. H. Merle D'Aubign
But who can reckon on the honesty of a woman where bribery and monkery reign!
Rule of the Monk
Giuseppe Garibaldi
Fructuosus, who died about 665, displayed when a mere child a genius for monkery.
Curiosities of Christian History
Croake James
"And still you haven't answered my question about your monkery," Guy persisted.
Guy and Pauline
Compton Mackenzie

British Dictionary definitions for monkery

monkery

noun plural -eries derogatory

monastic life or practices
a monastery or monks collectively

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012