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

For more than three decades, Iyer, an essayist and a novelist, has spent several weeks a year at a silent retreat in a monastery in Big Sur, California. —The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025

But early construction revealed a network of tunnels that were part of an ancient monastery complex. —Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024

Regarding interiors, the sets required sourcing Biedermeier furniture, and replicating existing frescoes from monasteries in Moldova. —Maya Ibbitson, Architectural Digest, 23 Dec. 2024

There is a museum dedicated to intricate yak butter sculptures of Buddhist deities in dazzling colors, and along the monastery’s periphery, worshippers walk the inner kora—the world’s longest path of prayer wheels at 3.5 kilometers. —Liam Freeman, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2024

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