Meaning & use
monasticism
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Meanings
noununcountablereligion
The way of life of monks or nuns, who leave ordinary society and follow strict religious rules in a community.
Grammar: Uncountable; no plural for this sense.
Patterns
- the history of monasticism
- enter monasticism
Monasticism spread across Europe in the Middle Ages.
He studied monasticism in Buddhist traditions.
Early monasticism emphasized prayer and simplicity.
noununcountableformal
The system or tradition of monasteries and religious orders as an institution.
Grammar: Used in history writing and comparative religion.
Patterns
- Christian monasticism
- the rise of monasticism
Monasticism shaped medieval education and farming.
The book traces the decline of monasticism in England.
Monasticism exists in Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism.
noununcountablefigurative
A simple, self-denying and secluded way of living, even outside religion.
Grammar: Used figuratively, often with a modifier like academic.
Patterns
- a kind of monasticism
Writing the thesis demanded a kind of monasticism.
He practiced monasticism of the mind, ignoring his phone.
Her studio life had a certain monasticism.
Common combinations
- Christian monasticism
- Christian monasticism began in the desert.
- Buddhist monasticism
- Buddhist monasticism values meditation and discipline.
- medieval monasticism
- Medieval monasticism preserved many manuscripts.
- rise of monasticism
- The rise of monasticism changed rural life.
- strict monasticism
- The order followed a strict monasticism.
Synonyms and how they differ
- asceticism
- Asceticism is the practice of severe self-denial, which may or may not occur in a monastery.
- cloistered life
- A cloistered life is lived inside a closed religious community, like a nunnery, and is narrower than monasticism.
- religious life
- Religious life is a broad phrase that can include priests and others, not just monks and nuns.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: monasticism or monarchy?
monasticism vs monarchy
A monarchy is rule by a king or queen. It is not the same as the monk's way of life, even though the words look similar.
Practice
Which word names the broad tradition of monk and nun communities?
Choose one answer.
Monasticism is the tradition of living as monks or nuns. The other words begin the same way but mean rule by a king, dull sameness and sole control of a market.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “monasticism”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.