monastery

noun

mon·​as·​tery ˈmä-nə-ˌster-ē 

plural monasteries

: a house for persons under religious vows

especially : an establishment for monks

Synonyms

• 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 Shameless actress, 31, exchanged vows with the football star inside a historic 16th-century colonial monastery in Oaxaca, Mexico, in May 2023. —Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025

But a new theory suggests the book may have emerged from a Pictish monastery in Portmahomack, on Scotland’s northeast coast. —Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 28 Sep. 2025

According to Na Uyana Monastery’s website, the complex is one of the oldest Buddhist forest monasteries in the country, dating back to the 3rd century BCE. —Catherine Nicholls, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025

His sophomore feature is a sensual drama following young Luz and Pedro, who meet by chance at the olive oil mill but are unaware of the existence of Omar, who lies in the infirmary of the nearby monastery. —Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 21 Sep. 2025

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
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• beriberi
• breviary
• budgetary
• capillary
• catenary
• cautionary

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