convent

1 of 2

noun

con·​vent ˈkän-vənt How to pronounce convent (audio)
-ˌvent
: a local community or house of a religious order or congregation
especially : an establishment of nuns

convent

2 of 2

verb

con·​vent kən-ˈvent How to pronounce convent (audio)
convented; conventing; convents
obsolete

Examples of convent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The origin story of the evil spirit Valak from The Conjuring 2, The Nun stars Taissa Farmiga (sister of Vera) as Irene, a young novitiate and clairvoyant summoned to a convent to investigate a fellow nun’s suicide. Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025 Orphaned at 10 years old, he was educated at a convent in his hometown of Auxerre. Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 3 Sep. 2025 In the film, set in 1948 over the course of just seven days, Teresa — Mother Superior of the convent of the Sisters of Loreto — is in her late 30s. Marta Balaga, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025 All this unfolds while the days count down, flagged by bold onscreen graphics, to the Day Zero when Teresa will get her papal dispensation and leave the convent to start her new order. Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for convent

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English covent, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin conventus, from Latin, assembly, from convenire

Verb

Latin conventus, past participle of convenire

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1514, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of convent was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Convent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/convent. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

convent

noun
con·​vent
ˈkän-vənt,
-ˌvent
1
: a community of nuns living together
2
: a house or set of buildings occupied by nuns

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