cloister

American  

[kloi-ster] / ˈklɔɪ stər /

noun

1. a covered walk, especially in a religious institution, having an open arcade or colonnade usually opening onto a courtyard.

2. a courtyard, especially in a religious institution, bordered with such walks.

3. a place of religious seclusion, as a monastery or convent.

   Synonyms:

   priory, abbey

4. any quiet, secluded place.

5. life in a monastery or convent.

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verb (used with object)

cloisters, present (3rd person singular) cloistered, past participle, past cloistering present participle

1. to confine in a monastery or convent.

2. to confine in retirement; seclude.

3. to furnish with a cloister or covered walk.

4. to convert into a monastery or convent.

cloister British  

/ ˈklɔɪstə /

noun

1. a covered walk, usually around a quadrangle in a religious institution, having an open arcade or colonnade on the inside and a wall on the outside

2. (sometimes plural) a place of religious seclusion, such as a monastery

3. life in a monastery or convent

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verb

1. (tr) to confine or seclude in or as if in a monastery

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• cloisterlike
  adjective
• cloister-like
  adjective
• cloisterless
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have cloistered
  perfect
• has cloistered
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have been cloistering
  perfect progressive
• is cloistering
  progressive 3rd person singular
• has been cloistering
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• cloistering
  participle
• am cloistering
  progressive 1st person singular
• cloisters
  singular 3rd person
• are cloistering
  progressive

Past

• had cloistered
  perfect
• was cloistering
  progressive singular
• cloistered
  participle
• had been cloistering
  perfect progressive
• were cloistering
  progressive plural
• cloistered
  simple

Future

• will cloister
  simple
• will have cloistered
  perfect
• will be cloistering
  progressive
• will have been cloistering
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of cloister

1250–1300; Middle English cloistre < Anglo-French, Old French, blend of cloison partition ( see cloisonné) and clostre (< Latin claustrum barrier ( Late Latin: enclosed place); see claustrum)

Explanation

A cloister is an enclosed garden, usually surrounded by covered walkways. Because such spaces are often featured in buildings that house religious orders, cloister can be used to mean "monastery" or "convent." In enclosed religious orders, monks and nuns withdraw from society to devote themselves to prayer and contemplation. In order to provide them with access to the outdoors while protecting them from contact with the secular world, the cloister became a common element of convents and monasteries. When used as a verb, cloister generally loses its religious connotation and means "to seclude" or "isolate." Don't get a lunch detention or you'll be cloistered in the classroom while all the other kids are running around outside.

Example Sentences

After the Velvet Revolution in 1989, the panels were restituted to the monastic community at Vyšší Brod, which has entrusted them to the Agnes Cloister of the National Gallery for all to see.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

AEI’s annual World Forum will be held this week at The Cloister at Sea Island, Georgia.

From Washington Times • Mar. 7, 2022

They are then conducted from the Dean's Cloister to the Galilee Porch to view the procession and await the arrival of the Queen.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2021

John Rhodes, chief investment officer of AP Wealth Management in Augusta, Ga., paid $1.5 million in 2007 for his quarter-share in a three-bedroom, four-bathroom condo at the Cloister Ocean Residences.

From New York Times • May 1, 2015

The level at that spot is, indeed, much higher than in the Cloister, or Chapter-house, but that is partially caused by the debris of ruined buildings which has accumulated there.

From Mellifont Abbey, Co. Louth Its Ruins and Associations, a Guide and Popular History by Anonymous

Related Words

• nunnery