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

Malka Gorman was taken to an infirmary for care, but instead young Erna heard caregivers whispering that her mother was Jewish. —Edie Kasten, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026

Still, the lawsuit said, a doctor on a phone call with those nurses authorized Benfield’s admission to the infirmary housing unit under a detoxification protocol. —Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 22 Jan. 2026

Percy wakes up in the infirmary with Thalia still unconscious. —Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026

Nor are they provided with their own sets of keys to access infirmaries, clinics, housing units and psych wards. —Mary Buser, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 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