monk
muhngk
Monk (noun) means a man who has devoted his life to religious duty, typically living in a monastery under vows. Example: “The monk spent the afternoon copying old texts by hand in the quiet library.”
noun
1
A man who has devoted his life to religious duty, typically living in a monastery under vows.
"The monk spent the afternoon copying old texts by hand in the quiet library."
"The monk rose before dawn to pray in silence."
"Buddhist monks in orange robes walked through the market at sunrise."
How to use monk
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA man living a religious life, often set apart from ordinary society, following the rules of his order.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a Buddhist monk
a monastery of monks
take vows as a monk
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like monk.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- monks
- Third person singular
- monks
- Past tense
- monked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ spent the afternoon copying old texts by hand in the quiet library.
Etymology
From Old English munuc, from Late Latin monachus, from Greek monakhos, "solitary," from monos, "alone."
Related words
Rhymes for monk
See all rhymes for monk →Frequently asked questions
What does “monk” mean?
The word “monk” means a man who has devoted his life to religious duty, typically living in a monastery under vows. In plain terms, a man living a religious life, often set apart from ordinary society, following the rules of his order.
How do you pronounce “monk”?
“Monk” is pronounced muhngk (/mʌŋk/ in IPA).
How do you use “monk” in a sentence?
Here is “monk” used in a sentence: “The monk rose before dawn to pray in silence.”
What part of speech is “monk”?
“Monk” is a noun.
Where does the word “monk” come from?
The word “monk” comes from Late Latin. From Old English munuc, from Late Latin monachus, from Greek monakhos, "solitary," from monos, "alone.".
Is “monk” a common word?
“Monk” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between a monk and a priest?
A monk is a man who has devoted his life to religious duty, usually living in a monastery under vows. A priest is ordained to lead worship and perform religious rites, often serving a congregation. A man can be both, but most monks are not priests and most priests are not monks.
What is the difference between a monk and a friar?
Both are men in religious life, but a monk typically lives a settled, enclosed life within a monastery. A friar belongs to an order that traditionally lives and works out in the wider community rather than staying behind monastery walls.
What is the difference between a monk and a nun?
A monk is a man who has taken religious vows and usually lives in a monastery, while a nun is a woman who has taken similar vows and lives in a convent. The main distinction is gender and the type of religious community they belong to.
Where do monks live?
A monk typically lives in a monastery, a community set apart for religious life. There he follows a daily routine of prayer, work, and worship under the vows he has taken.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include monk:
