mo·nas·tic
mə-ˈna-stik 
1
: of or relating to monasteries or to monks or nuns
the rituals of monastic life
2
: resembling (as in seclusion or ascetic simplicity) life in a monastery
shows a monastic dedication to his job
plural monastics
: a member of a monastic order : a person (such as a monk) who lives under religious vows
Monastics are people who … every day try hard to become part of a community—to relinquish aspects of the very egoism the rest of us spend our lives, in various ways, trying to enhance.—
Robert Coles
Robert ColesExamples of monastic in a Sentence
Adjective
He founded a monastic order in Belgium.
He shows a monastic dedication to his job.
She studied for the test with monastic zeal.
Recent Examples on the WebRachel King, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
Drawing inspiration from ancient monastic practices, guests can master the art of calligraphy or illuminated letters, an age-old technique.
—Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes, 28 Sep. 2024
Koh Ewe, TIME, 13 May 2024
Over the past 2,000 years, Buddhist teachings have encountered distortions and alterations due to mistranslation and misinterpretation of Buddha-dharma by Buddhist patriarchs, eminent monastics, and Buddhist scholars.
—Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 25 July 2023
See all Example Sentences for monastic 
Adjective
Chartreuse, a herbal liqueur traditionally made by Carthusian monks in France, has been facing supply shortages due to the decision by the monks to prioritize their monastic lifestyle over increasing production, as detailed by the New York Times last year.
—Rachel King, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
Drawing inspiration from ancient monastic practices, guests can master the art of calligraphy or illuminated letters, an age-old technique.
—Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes, 28 Sep. 2024
Noun
Buddhist organizations, whose members are also known to skew older, have been trying to connect with younger people by updating the image of monastics, usually known for their no-nonsense asceticism.
—Koh Ewe, TIME, 13 May 2024
Over the past 2,000 years, Buddhist teachings have encountered distortions and alterations due to mistranslation and misinterpretation of Buddha-dharma by Buddhist patriarchs, eminent monastics, and Buddhist scholars.
—Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 25 July 2023
See all Example Sentences for monastic
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'monastic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near monastic
Cite this Entry
“Monastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monastic. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
monastic
adjective
mo·nas·tic
mə-ˈnas-tik
1
: of or relating to monks or monasteries
2
: resembling life in a monastery
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