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

• cloister-like
  adjective
• cloisterless
  adjective
• cloisterlike
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

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

Past

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

A series of unfortunate events ultimately lead to her permanent cloister, a tiny cell built into the wall of a cathedral.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 4, 2026

Even so, she didn’t live in a cloister.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 27, 2025

A row of vaults seem to be supported by 14 superslim columns but are, in fact, suspended from the ceiling and give the room the sheltered quality of a cloister.

From New York Times • May 3, 2024

A chocolate kitchen, chocolate serving room, chocolate cloister and full chocolate staff are optional.

From BBC • Dec. 10, 2023

Abbot Mortimer lay in the cloister gardens surrounded by his mice and woodland friends.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

Related Words

• nunnery