monastery

noun

mon·​as·​tery ˈmä-nə-ˌster-ē 

plural monasteries

: a house for persons under religious vows

especially : an establishment for monks

Synonyms of monastery

• cloister
• abbey

Examples of monastery in a Sentence

Gregory Mendel worked out his concepts of genetics by doing breeding experiments using pea plants in the monastery's garden.

Recent Examples on the Web

The work originally had six panels, but one was destroyed along with the monastery that housed it in the 1908 Messina earthquake. — Willem Marx, NPR, 16 Aug. 2026

The Museum of Rural Arts In 2008, a volunteer association in the hamlet founded the Museum of Rural Arts, which is housed in a historic monastery (Convento di San Girolamo). — Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Paintings, liturgical objects and the clothes of a notable 18th century Spanish count were among the other items removed from the monastery. — Angela Charlton, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

The buildings that now house the hotel have deep roots—the property originally served as a Jesuit monastery in the 17th century, and a French-style wing was added in 1739. — Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English monasterie, from Late Latin monasterium, from Late Greek monastērion, from Greek, hermit's cell, from monazein to live alone, from monos single — more at monk

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for monastery

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• apiary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• bacillary
• beriberi
• bestiary
• breviary
• budgetary

Kids Definition

monastery

noun

mon·​as·​tery ˈmän-ə-ˌster-ē 

plural monasteries

: a place where a community of monks or nuns live and work

monasterial

ˌmän-ə-ˈstir-ē-əl

adjective