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 backstory The former convent was once home to some of the richest cloistered nuns in South Tyrol. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026

The adjacent convent houses a library of precious antique books in various languages. —Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 19 Jan. 2026

It’s housed in a former 14th-century convent and was converted into a hotel in the late 19th century. —Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2026

Decades ago, the site was a convent. —Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026

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