What does monkish mean?
Monkish means resembling a monk, particularly in a person's austere habits, seriousness, or self-denial. Its tone is usually disparaging or humorous: describing someone as monkish suggests that their behavior is excessively religious, solemn, or austere, often with an implication that they have become isolated from ordinary pleasures and social life. The word can occasionally be used more neutrally when referring to a genuinely monk-like appearance or lifestyle, as in a monkish habit, but it is not normally a flattering description. In modern English, monkish is more common in literary, critical, and informal commentary than in neutral descriptions of monastic life. It should be distinguished from monastic, which more directly means connected with a monastery or monastic community.
adjectiveResembling a monk, especially in being austere, serious, or devoted to a secluded religious life. The word is often used disparagingly to describe someone as excessively solemn, self-denying, or puritanical.
- Resembling a monk in austere, solitary, self-denying, or religiously devoted behavior, often with a disparaging or humorous implication.
"His monkish devotion to routine made even his midday meal seem like a ritual of penance."
"The critic dismissed the novel's elevated prose as monkish and joyless."
"Despite his monkish habits, he could not resist joining the others for a late-night meal."
Calling someone monkish can be a polite way of suggesting they have turned breakfast into a monastery.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does monkish come from?
Monkish was formed in the 16th century from monk plus the suffix -ish, meaning somewhat or resembling. The word shares its root with monastery, monastic, and monkhood, all of which derive from Latin monasticus and ultimately from Greek monachos, meaning a solitary person or monk.
Related word forms
How monkish is actually used
Usually critical, humorous, or disapproving rather than neutral. It may be used literally for a monk-like habit or life, but more commonly describes a person whose behavior seems excessively pious, solemn, or austere.
Easily confused with monkish
Monastic generally describes something belonging to or characteristic of a monastery, whereas monkish often has a more critical or humorous sense of being excessively religious or austere.
A monk is a member of a religious community, while monkish is an adjective describing qualities that resemble those of a monk.