monks

Cultural  

1. Men under religious vows who live in a community and whose work is usually centered on their community, which is called a monastery. Buddhism and Christianity have notable groups of monks. In Christianity, the monks are members of religious orders.

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Example Sentences

A 4-foot-high stone wall surrounds the east and south flanks, most likely built by monks centuries ago.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

Last summer he riveted the internet with eccentric scenes of martial arts training with Shaolin monks in China, his head shaved in solidarity.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

Legend has it that monks baking pretzels in a basement bakery heard noises below them and alerted the rest of the city of an impending invasion.

From Salon • Apr. 28, 2026

Sri Lanka's Police Narcotics Bureau discovered photos and videos on the mobile phones of some of the monks, who were from temples across Sri Lanka, showing them enjoying their break wearing casual clothing.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

Every year at around this time the monks came down from their mountainside temple to collect their tithe of rice.

From "A Single Shard" by Linda Sue Park