convent

1 of 2

noun

con·​vent ˈkän-vənt How to pronounce convent (audio)
-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 How to pronounce convent (audio)
convented; conventing; convents
obsolete

Examples of convent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Taking cues from the frescoes that adorn the ceilings of the 15th-century convent, the celebrated French interior designer, known for his work in luxury hospitality, opted for a similar color palette achieved through natural pigments aged by time, such as terra-cotta and celestial gray-blue shades. Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 2 July 2025 The property served as a convent for a while but was eventually abandoned for several decades. Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 14 May 2025 Known for their fearless improvisation and genre-defying performances, the trio’s performance in a hall, on the grounds of a former convent, was a 45-minute, intense, non-stop wall of sound. Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025 While some suites overlook the courtyard, our balcony opened to the hulking stone Santo Domingo church and convent, which sits in Qorikancha, an ever-present reminder of both Incan ingenuity and the Spanish colonial influence. Jennifer Kester, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for convent

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of convent was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Convent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/convent. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

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

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