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 chorus sticks in your head, then follows you around, reverberating at weddings, baseball stadiums, gyms, even a convent. —Rachel Ventresca, Fortune, 6 June 2024

Second-wave feminism was afoot, secularism was on the rise and the Second Vatican Council, held between 1962 and ’65, had ushered in numerous church reforms: Nuns, for example, were encouraged to get out of the convent and serve the community and were no longer required to wear habits. —Amanda Fortini, New York Times, 16 May 2024

From the history of its convents to the violets that take over its storefronts, Toulouse is not content to be a city of a single color. —Alberto Piernas Medina, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Dec. 2023

Her mother took her to Welcome House, a convent run by missionaries. —Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 31 May 2024

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