convent

1 of 2

noun

con·​vent ˈkän-vənt 

-ˌvent

: a local community or house of a religious order or congregation

especially : an establishment of nuns

convent

2 of 2

verb

con·​vent kən-ˈvent 

convented; conventing; convents

obsolete

: convene

Examples of convent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Bill undergoes a moral crisis when his path crosses with a wretched head nun (Emily Watson) at a convent that’s part of the notorious Magdalene Laundries — a place of severe abuse of women. —Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024

The agency raised its volcano alert to its highest level 4, as the column of hot ash landed on buildings and homes across seven villages—including a convent of Catholic nuns, the Associated Press reported. —Siladitya Ray, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

At least 10 people including a child have died in Indonesia following a series of powerful volcanic eruptions that destroyed homes and a Catholic convent, authorities said. —David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024

The building has evolved from a 14th-century fortress to a Moorish mansion then a Franciscan convent and now a luxury hotel. —Allix Cott, Architectural Digest, 18 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English covent, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin conventus, from Latin, assembly, from convenire

Verb

Latin conventus, past participle of convenire

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1514, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

convent

noun

con·​vent

ˈkän-vənt,

-ˌvent

1

: a community of nuns living together

2

: a house or set of buildings occupied by nuns