infirmary

noun

in·​fir·​ma·​ry in-ˈfər-mə-rē 

-ˈfərm-rē

plural infirmaries

1

: a place (as in a school or prison) where sick or injured individuals receive care and treatment

2

: a large medical facility : hospital

Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

Examples of infirmary in a Sentence

One of the students became ill and was sent to the infirmary.

Recent Examples on the Web

Jahangir did not break down the casualty figures but said the attack had hit the prison’s infirmary, engineering building, judicial affairs and visitation hall, where visiting family members were killed and injured. —David Rising, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2025

About a year after the infirmary team returned to the United States, the 19th Amendment became law, enfranchising 27 million women, the largest expansion of voting rights in American history. —Amy Sohn, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025

Late last year, body camera footage released by the New York attorney general’s office showed the officers punching and kicking Brooks while he was handcuffed to an infirmary bed at Marcy Correctional Facility. —Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 5 May 2025

Image Image Today, the convent functions as an infirmary for elderly Dominican friars from the area. —Clara Vannucci, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

infirmary

noun

in·​fir·​ma·​ry in-ˈfərm-(ə-)rē 

plural infirmaries

: a place (as in a school or camp) for the care of sick or injured people

also : hospital

Medical Definition

infirmary

noun

in·​fir·​ma·​ry in-ˈfərm-(ə-)rē 

plural infirmaries

1

: a place (as in a school or prison) where sick or injured individuals receive care and treatment

2

: a large medical facility : hospital

Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary