convent

American  

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

noun

• convents
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• convents
  plural

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

See Examples For:

convent convents

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

Looming over the colorless town is its hulking circa-1385 monastery, extended in convent courtyards and stately chapels with lofty naves, offering dazzling displays of stained glass.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 27, 2026

Giulio Cesareo, director of communications for the Franciscan convent in Assisi said he hoped the display could be "a meaningful experience" for believers and non-believers alike.

From Barron's ● Feb. 22, 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

At the convent, when I mop, I hang my uniform on a wire hanger in the nuns’ closet and slip on my old brown shift, in which I feel comfortable and almost invisible.

From "Taste of Salt: A Story of Modern Haiti" by Frances Temple

To manage on a starting salary, some young professionals are turning to convents.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026

“Many of the early monasteries and convents took vows of silence, but that did not include singing, bells or gongs,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2023

Across Europe, the continent that nurtured Christianity for most of two millennia, churches, convents and chapels stand empty and increasingly derelict as faith and church attendance shriveled over the past half century.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 22, 2023

Now, Patrimonio Nacional oversees palaces, monasteries, convents, and royal gardens across the country.

From Washington Times ● May 22, 2023

Matt tried to imagine what she was doing, but he knew nothing about convents.

From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer