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

He was brought to the prison infirmary, where numerous guards surrounded, punched, kicked, choked, dropped and manhandled him. — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 19 Sep. 2026

After one encounter with jail staff, Phillip was taken to the infirmary with a bloody white bag over his head and one eye swollen shut. — Jim Defede, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026

Ten days later, she was called out of her jail cell and told to go to the infirmary. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2026

The oldest mentions of the Grove, which got that name in 1935, refer to its dark expanse, haunted by the spirits of soldiers who died in the nearby school chapel that was turned into an infirmary during the Civil War. — Wright Thompson, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2026

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