convent

American  

[kon-vent, -vuhnt] / ˈkɒn vɛnt, -vənt /

noun

1. a community of persons devoted to religious life under a superior.

   Synonyms:

   priory, abbey

2. a society or association of monks, friars, or nuns: now usually used of a society of nuns.

3. the building or buildings occupied by such a society; a monastery or nunnery.

   Synonyms:

   cloister

4. Obsolete. assembly; meeting.

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convent British  

/ ˈkɒnvənt /

noun

1. a building inhabited by a religious community, usually of nuns

2. the religious community inhabiting such a building

3. Also called: convent school.  a school in which the teachers are nuns

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convent Cultural  

1. A community of people in a religious order, especially nuns.

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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.

Example Sentences

Walk through the Convent of San Marco in Florence, and you’ll see Crucifixion after Crucifixion in frescos by the 15th-century painter Fra Angelico.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

Bishop Montgomery 8, Ramona Convent 2: Macey Kim struck out 17 for the Knights.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2025

Susan, then a high school senior at Convent of the Sacred Heart, wrote news releases for the campaign.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 19, 2023

While enrolled at Alton Convent School in Hampshire, England, she sang in the choir, and in her early teens, she listened to disco and dressed like a punk, a look she said was “really unfashionable.”

From New York Times • Apr. 11, 2023

I am unaware, of course, how much time they give you for your personal drawing at your Convent and hope you will advise me.

From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger