mendicant Definition
- 1a beggar or someone who lives by begging
- 2a member of a religious order that relies on charity for support
Using mendicant: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "mendicant" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The streets were filled with mendicants asking for money.
Example
The friar was a mendicant who relied on the generosity of others to survive.
Example
The church provided shelter and food for the mendicants who lived nearby.
mendicant Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for mendicant
Phrases with mendicant
Example
The Franciscan order is a mendicant order.
Example
The mendicant friar spent his days begging for alms.
Example
The monk chose a mendicant life, giving up all his worldly possessions.
Origins of mendicant
from Latin 'mendicans', present participle of 'mendicare', meaning 'to beg'
Summary: mendicant in Brief
The term 'mendicant' [men-di-kuhnt] refers to a beggar or someone who lives by begging, or a member of a religious order that relies on charity for support. It is often used in reference to poverty and charity, exemplified by 'The streets were filled with mendicants asking for money.' 'Mendicant' extends into phrases like 'mendicant order,' denoting a religious order that relies on charity, and 'mendicant life,' referring to a life of poverty and begging.