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

The origin story of the evil spirit Valak from The Conjuring 2, The Nun stars Taissa Farmiga (sister of Vera) as Irene, a young novitiate and clairvoyant summoned to a convent to investigate a fellow nun’s suicide. —Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025

In the film, set in 1948 over the course of just seven days, Teresa — Mother Superior of the convent of the Sisters of Loreto — is in her late 30s. —Marta Balaga, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025

All this unfolds while the days count down, flagged by bold onscreen graphics, to the Day Zero when Teresa will get her papal dispensation and leave the convent to start her new order. —Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025

Once a convent, the building now blends historic character with contemporary design, creating a truly distinctive living experience. —Miriam Schwartz, Boston Herald, 22 Aug. 2025

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