infirmary

American  

[in-fur-muh-ree] / ɪnˈfɜr mə ri /

noun

plural

infirmaries

1. a place for the care of the infirm, sick, or injured; hospital or facility serving as a hospital.

   a school infirmary.

2. a dispensary.

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infirmary British  

/ ɪnˈfɜːmərɪ /

noun

1. a place for the treatment of the sick or injured; dispensary; hospital

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Etymology

Origin of infirmary

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English word from Medieval Latin word infirmāria. See infirm, -ary

Example Sentences

Working as a cook at the local infirmary, she attends a revival meeting that proves pivotal to her development.

From The Wall Street Journal

So many of my dad’s stories about his youth were set at Carville that I’d been imagining it for my entire life, but he never said much about his time in the infirmary.

From Salon

Levi was too sick and Soviet troops found him close to death in the camp infirmary.

From BBC

For the jail’s infirmary, there are options including adding new steel-braced frames.

From Los Angeles Times

He was susceptible to infection as a diabetic, but doctors in the infirmary did not stop the wound from festering, according to a lawsuit that was handwritten and filed by the prisoner.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• dispensary