monastery

noun

mon·​as·​tery ˈmä-nə-ˌster-ē 

plural monasteries

: a house for persons under religious vows

especially : an establishment for monks

Synonyms

• abbey
• cloister
• friary
• hermitage
• priory

Examples of monastery in a Sentence

Gregory Mendel worked out his concepts of genetics by doing breeding experiments using pea plants in the monastery's garden.

Recent Examples on the Web

Allied forces have taken Sicily and begun the treacherous push up Italy’s boot, but the advance has stalled near the Abbey of Monte Cassino, a historic monastery planted atop a rocky hill in the Apennine Mountains. —Catherine Musemeche, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2025

Constructed initially just outside of Madrid in 1141, this monastery was occupied by Cistercian monks for almost 700 years before becoming storage and stables during the social revolution of the 1800s. —Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2025

The monastery's mosaic floor features depictions of crosses, lions, doves, an amphora (a type of container vessel used in antiquity), flowers and geometric patterns. —Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025

The little yellow ashram has a small meditation garden, a Hindu seminary and a residential monastery. —Kira Wakeam, NPR, 31 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English monasterie, from Late Latin monasterium, from Late Greek monastērion, from Greek, hermit's cell, from monazein to live alone, from monos single — more at monk

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

monastery

noun

mon·​as·​tery ˈmän-ə-ˌster-ē 

plural monasteries

: a place where a community of monks or nuns live and work

monasterial

ˌmän-ə-ˈstir-ē-əl

adjective