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

As a result, the area is especially rich in monasteries that, Dalla Ragione knew, had old gardens and orchards that had escaped the farm consolidations over the past half-century thanks to their isolated locations—and their unwillingness to sell their land to agribusiness. —Mark Schapiro, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Oct. 2024

Originally a 17th-century imperial palace, the Lama Temple was converted into a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in 1744. —Livia Hengel, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024

Some travelers come to visit the country’s ancient monasteries and cathedrals, others for its national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. —Fredric Dannen, Billboard, 4 Oct. 2024

Seventy villagers were given shelter in the nearby monastery and school, with residents also opening up their homes to 30 fleeing the violence nearby, according to monastery officials. —Zoya Awky, NBC News, 2 Oct. 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