cloister

1 of 2

noun

clois·​ter ˈklȯi-stər 

1

a

: a monastic establishment

b

: an area within a monastery or convent to which the religious are normally restricted

c

: monastic life

young men and women choosing the cloister as a way of life

d

: a place or state of seclusion

… the Internet broke out of its academic cloister and started cavorting in the mainstream.

—Paul McFedries

2

: a covered passage on the side of a court usually having one side walled and the other an open arcade or colonnade

The courtyard is surrounded with a cloister.

Illustration of cloister

• cloister 2

cloister

2 of 2

verb

cloistered; cloistering ˈklȯi-st(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to seclude from the world in or as if in a cloister

a scientist who cloisters herself in a laboratory

policy makers are cloistered for the weekend, trying to stave off a default that they fear could trigger an international financial panic

—Art Pine

2

: to surround with a cloister

cloistered gardens

Did you know?

Cloister first entered the English language as a noun in the 13th century; it referred then (as it still does) to a convent or monastery. More than three centuries later, English speakers began using the verb cloister to mean "to seclude in or as if in a cloister." Today, the noun can also refer to the monastic life or to a covered and usually arched passage along or around a court. You may also encounter cloistered with the meaning "surrounded with a covered passage," as in "cloistered gardens." Cloister ultimately derives from the Latin verb claudere, meaning "to close." Other words that can be traced back to the prolific claudere include close, conclude, exclude, include, preclude, seclude, and recluse.

Synonyms

Noun

• abbey
• friary
• hermitage
• monastery
• priory

Examples of cloister in a Sentence

Noun

monks living in a cloister in the country

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Made from 20-foot-square intersecting concrete vaults, the structure takes inspiration from cloister architecture and the canopies of trees in the area. —David A. Keeps, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2024

But for all the intricate cloisters, chaotic markets, and grand sea terraces, Palermo’s narratives are really more about characters than scenery. —Stanley Stewart, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 July 2024

Verb

The past decade or so has seen the rise of a shambolic and democratic but ultimately cloistered form of media criticism that feeds off screenshots of headlines, the pathologizing of reporters, and constant accusations of corruption. —Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 12 July 2024

Tenacious, yet evasive, Ben is a new addition to the Inishowen peninsula in County Donegal, where the community is colorful and cloistered. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 9 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English cloistre, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin claustrum, from Latin, bar, bolt, from claudere to close — more at close entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

cloister

1 of 2 noun

clois·​ter ˈklȯi-stər 

1

a

: monastery, convent

b

: monastic life

2

: a covered usually arched passage along or around a court

cloister

2 of 2 verb

1

: to shut away from the world in or as if in a cloister

leads a cloistered life

2

: to surround with a cloister

cloistered gardens