monastic

UK: /məˈnæstɪk/ US: /məˈnæstɪk/ ,(mə nas′tik)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

mo•nas•tic /məˈnæstɪk/   adj. 

Also, moˈnas•ti•cal. 
1. Religion of or relating to monks or monasteries:
   monastic vows.

n. [countable]

2. Religion a member of a monastic community or order, esp. a monk.

mo•nas•ti•cism, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

mo•nas•tic  (mə nas′tik), adj. Also, mo•nas′ti•cal. 

1. Religion of or pertaining to monasteries:
   a monastic library.
2. Religion of, pertaining to, or characteristic of monks or nuns, their manner of life, or their religious obligations:
   monastic vows.
3. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a secluded, dedicated, or austere manner of living.

n. 

4. Religion a member of a monastic community or order, esp. a monk.

• Late Greek monastikós, equivalent. to monas- (verbid stem of monázein to be alone; see mon-) + -ikos -ic, with -t- by analogy with derivatives of agent nouns in -tēs (compare athlete, athletic)
• Late Latin monasticus
• late Middle English monastik 1400–50

mo•nas′ti•cal•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

monastic / məˈnæstɪk/ adjective monastical

1. of or relating to monasteries or monks, nuns, etc
2. resembling this sort of life; reclusive

noun

1. a person who is committed to this way of life, esp a monk

moˈnastically adverb