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Definition of "monkhood" [monk•hood]

  • The character, condition, or profession of a monk; monasticism. (noun)
  • Monks considered as a group. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "monkhood" in a sentence
  • "Pongruengrong, who is also a popular singer, entered monkhood after being released on bail last month."
  • "In an interview before leaving the U.S., Mr. Sangay revealed that his father left the monkhood to join Tibetan guerrillas fighting Chinese troops who entered Tibet in 1950, and was shot in the leg while helping to provide security for the escaping Dalai Lama."
  • "Entering monkhood is a rite of passage for many boys, although most of them spend a few days to a few months—rather than a lifetime—as a monk."