convent
Americannoun
-
a community of persons devoted to religious life under a superior.
-
a society or association of monks, friars, or nuns: now usually used of a society of nuns.
-
the building or buildings occupied by such a society; a monastery or nunnery.
- Synonyms:
- cloister
-
Obsolete. assembly; meeting.
noun
-
a building inhabited by a religious community, usually of nuns
-
the religious community inhabiting such a building
-
Also called: convent school. a school in which the teachers are nuns
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of convent
1175–1225; < Medieval Latin conventus; Latin: assembly, coming together, equivalent to conven ( īre ) ( see convene) + -tus suffix of v. action; replacing Middle English covent < Anglo-French < Medieval Latin, as above
Explanation
A convent is a place where nuns live. Have you decided to dedicate the rest of your life to serving God? Well, then, maybe it’s time for you to consider moving into a convent. Although convent usually refers to the actual building where nuns live together, it can also sometimes more generally refer to a Christian community that is living according to religious vows. Catholic monks live in communities together in monasteries, while Catholic nuns tend to live in convents.
Vocabulary lists containing convent
"The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Poet X
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Queen of the Sea
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While the majority of the south is Shia, Farah said Israel's demolitions in Yarun have included "the church hall, a convent and the Saint George school".
From Barron's • May 22, 2026
He grew up in Kolkata, moving between a convent school and a prestigious Jesuit boys' school where he first discovered music while cleaning instruments in the music room.
From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026
The women find refuge in a convent and, ultimately, in a seaside town where some measure of peace awaits them.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 4, 2026
In Rome, they founded the convent of Santa Maria del Popolo at one of the city's main entrances, with trees and gardens nearby.
From Science Daily • Feb. 2, 2026
Then I will take a new path, join the convent as a nun, and become pure again.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
