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

They’re relentlessly pursued by Ash and her army of murderous monks and also must contend with the most fearsome CGI demonic creatures a mid-budget movie can create. —Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Mar. 2025

Once a guest demanded, and received, a magician; the hotel has the island’s only English-speaking Buddhist monk on speed dial; recently, a guest arrived at the hotel at 10 p.m. and wanted to propose to his girlfriend right away. —Sangeeta Singh-Kurtz, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025

The Origins of Matcha While matcha may have blown up on social media this year, this drink actually dates back to the Tang Dynasty in China and was brought over to Japan by a Buddhist monk over 900 years ago. —Lauryn Jiles, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2025

Tibetan Buddhist monks can raise the temperature of their hands and feet by 15 degrees through meditation. —Outside Online, 19 Feb. 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