Monastic
/məˈnæs.tɪk/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Monastic means connected to monks or monasteries. Monks are people who live a religious life, often separated from normal society, focusing on prayer, work, and simple living. Monastic can describe their lifestyle, rules, buildings, or objects related to this way of life.
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See It in Action
Related to monks or their way of life
- •The monks follow a strict monastic routine every day.
- •She admired the monastic discipline of the religious community.
- •Monastic buildings are often old and peaceful.
Describing a simple, quiet, and disciplined lifestyle like that of monks
- •He lived a monastic life, avoiding distractions and focusing on study.
- •The writer’s monastic habits helped him concentrate on his work.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "monastic" like "quiet" or "simple," but it specifically means connected to monks and their way of life
- ✓Picture a small, old stone building with monks walking slowly, wearing simple clothes, praying in silence
- ✓It feels calm and peaceful, like a quiet morning in a church or a place where people focus on their thoughts and prayers
- ✓Sounds like "mo-NAST-ic" → imagine a "monk" (mo-) who is "nasty" (-nastic) to distractions, meaning he avoids noise and busy life to be calm
- ✓In stories or movies, monks often live in monastic places like monasteries, away from cities, dedicating life to religion
- ✓NOT like "busy" or "loud"—monastic means quiet, simple, and focused on spiritual life
- ✓NOT like "normal" life with many people and noise—monastic life is separate and often isolated
- ✓NOT like "fun" or "party"—monastic life is serious and disciplined
Try Other Words
- •Religious: connected to religion or faith (Use when talking about beliefs but not specifically monks)
- •Ascetic: living with few comforts, often for spiritual reasons (Use when emphasizing self-discipline and avoiding pleasures)
- •Quiet: making little or no noise (Use when focusing on silence, but not necessarily religious life)
- •Solitary: living alone or separated from others (Use when focusing on being alone, not always religious)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: "mon-" from Latin "monachus" meaning "monk"
- •Root: related to "monk" — a religious person who lives alone or in a community to pray
- •Suffix: "-astic" forms adjectives meaning "related to" or "characteristic of"
- •Origin: From Latin and Greek, originally meaning "of or like a monk"
- •Historical use: Used to describe monks and their lifestyle since medieval times; now also used for anything related to quiet, simple, religious life
- •Modern use: Describes places, objects, or lifestyles connected to monks or very simple and disciplined living
Reflect & Connect
•How might living a monastic lifestyle change a person’s daily habits and feelings?
•Can you think of situations where a monastic way of life could help someone focus or find peace?
Fill in the blanks
1.The monks followed a strict monastic ___ that included prayer and work every day.
2.A monastic lifestyle usually means living simply and avoiding ___ distractions.
3.Unlike busy cities, monastic places are known for their ___ and quietness.
4.People who choose a monastic life often do so to focus on ___ or spiritual goals.
5.The old monastery had a very monastic ___, with plain rooms and few decorations.
6.The writer’s monastic habits helped him ___ deeply on his books without interruption.
7.Monastic life is different from normal life because it is more ___ and disciplined.