monk

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈməŋk 

: a man who is a member of a religious order and lives in a monastery

also : friar

monk

2 of 2

noun (2)

: monkey

Examples of monk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Now people see black horses with fiery eyes, monks high in the tree tops. —Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025

While appearing on Live with Kelly and Mark on Monday, April 7, the 37-year-old podcast host and former Hindu monk discussed his most recent gig as a wedding officiant — because there's been more than one! — with Hudgens, 36, and Tucker, 28. —Rachel Raposas, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025

Humans have practiced some form of yodeling since at least the 13th century, when Marco Polo encountered Tibetan monks on his travels who used the vocal technique for long-distance communication. —ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2025

The restorers dabbed lightly at the vast blue background that surrounds a lone Christ, his head bent and his hands clutched into fists, a fitting image of meditation for the convent’s former chapter house, where monks once reached the order’s main decisions. —Clara Vannucci, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English munuc, from Late Latin monachus, from Late Greek monachos, from Greek, adjective, single, from monos single, alone

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1841, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing monk

• monk parakeet
• monk's cloth
• monk seal

Rhymes for monk

• bunk
• chunk
• clunk
• drunk
• dunk
• hunk
• junk
• punk
• shrunk
• slunk
• spunk
• sunk

Kids Definition

monk

noun

ˈməŋk

: a member of a religious community made up of men who agree to give up worldly life, remain poor and unmarried, and obey all laws of their community

monkish

ˈməŋ-kish

adjective

Biographical Definition

Monk

biographical name

ˈməŋk 

Thelonious Sphere 1920–1982 American jazz musician