• Today's Word

Ascetic

🔊 Listen to the word Ascetic 

uh-SET-ik

Definition

(adjective) Practicing severe self-discipline and avoiding all forms of indulgence, often for spiritual or philosophical reasons.

Example

He adopted an ascetic lifestyle, giving up comforts and focusing on meditation, study, and simple living.

Word Origin

Ascetic comes from the Greek askētikos, meaning “practicing training or exercise,” originally used for athletes. Over time the term shifted toward spiritual discipline, describing people who trained their minds and bodies through restraint, simplicity, and renunciation of physical pleasures.

Fun Fact

Throughout history, ascetic communities have existed in nearly every culture—from Buddhist monks and Christian hermits to Stoic philosophers and Hindu sadhus. Researchers studying these groups have found that extreme simplicity can sharpen focus and reduce certain kinds of stress, suggesting that ascetic practices may influence the brain’s ability to regulate attention and emotion.