Monastic describes a way of life devoted to religious practice, prayer, and spiritual discipline, usually separate from the everyday world. Monks and nuns live monastic lives in monasteries or convents, places specifically designed for religious communities. They follow strict schedules of prayer, work, and study, often waking before dawn and spending hours in meditation or worship.

Over time, monastic communities formed where religious people lived together while maintaining simplicity and discipline. A monastic schedule might include manual labor like farming or copying manuscripts, communal meals, and long periods of silence. Many monasteries have monastic rules that govern everything from what residents eat to when they sleep.

You might also hear the word used more broadly to describe anything extremely simple, disciplined, or separated from normal social life. Someone training intensely for the Olympics might follow an almost monastic routine, meaning they avoid distractions and stick to a rigorous schedule. A monastic bedroom would be plain and uncluttered, containing only what's truly necessary, like a simple bed and desk rather than posters, games, and decorations.