Mendicant — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˈmen-di-kənt/ men·di·cant

Meaning & Definition of Mendicant

Mendicant (noun)

  1. one who begs; especially, a usually unhoused person who lives by asking for money or food
  2. a member of a religious order (such as the Franciscans) combining monastic life and outside religious activity and originally owning neither personal nor community property, friar

Mendicant (adjective)

  1. practicing beggary, engaged in begging
  2. of, relating to, belonging to, or constituting a religious order combining monastic life and outside religious activity and originally owning neither personal nor community property

Mendicant (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person who lives by public begging

    "those wretched mendicants on the streets of Calcutta"

    similar: beggar, panhandler
    related: bohemian, bum, clochard, drifter, hobo, tramp, vagabond, vagrant, guttersnipe, urchin, waif, miserable, pauper, bludger (chiefly Australian & New Zealand), cadger, hanger-on, leech, moocher, parasite, schnorrer, sponge, sponger, dependent, deadbeat, derelict, idler, ne'er-do-well

Mendicant (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in monastic, conventual

    similar: conventual, monachal, monastic, divine, holy, religious, sacramental, caliphal, rabbinic, churchly, ecclesiastic, ecclesiastical, apostolic, canonical, diaconal, diocesan, episcopal, papal, patriarchal, pontifical, evangelical, missionary, clerical, clerkly, ministerial, pastoral, priestly, sacerdotal
    opposite: lay, nonclerical, secular, temporal

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Mendicant

The most common words with a similar meaning to Mendicant:

beggar, panhandler, conventual, monachal, monastic, divine, holy, religious, sacramental, caliphal, rabbinic, churchly, ecclesiastic, ecclesiastical, apostolic, canonical, diaconal, diocesan, episcopal, papal, patriarchal, pontifical, evangelical, missionary, clerical, clerkly, ministerial, pastoral, priestly, sacerdotal

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Mendicant

Words with the opposite meaning of Mendicant:

lay, nonclerical, secular, temporal

Related Words for Mendicant

bohemian, bum, clochard, drifter, hobo, tramp, vagabond, vagrant, guttersnipe, urchin, waif, miserable, pauper, bludger, cadger, hanger-on, leech, moocher, parasite, schnorrer, sponge, sponger, dependent, deadbeat, derelict, idler, ne'er-do-well

Origin & Etymology of Mendicant

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin mendicant-, mendicans, present participle of mendicare to beg, from mendicus beggar amend

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Mendicant

What does "Mendicant" mean?

"Mendicant" means one who begs; especially, a usually unhoused person who lives by asking for money or food. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: one who begs; especially, a usually unhoused person who lives by asking for money or food. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Mendicant"?

Other words for "Mendicant" include beggar, panhandler, conventual, monachal, monastic, divine, holy and religious. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Mendicant" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Mendicant"?

There are 57 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Mendicant". Common alternatives include beggar, panhandler, conventual, monachal, monastic, divine, holy, religious, sacramental and caliphal.

What is the opposite of "Mendicant"?

Antonyms of "Mendicant" include lay, nonclerical, secular and temporal.

How do you use "Mendicant" in a sentence?

Examples of "Mendicant" in a sentence: "those wretched mendicants on the streets of Calcutta".

Is "Mendicant" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Mendicant" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Mendicant"?

"Mendicant" is pronounced /ˈmen-di-kənt/ and divided into syllables as men·di·cant.

What is the origin of the word "Mendicant"?

"Mendicant" comes from Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin mendicant-, mendicans, present participle of mendicare to beg, from mendicus beggar amend. First known use: 14th century.