monastery

noun

mon·​as·​tery ˈmä-nə-ˌster-ē 

plural monasteries

: a house for persons under religious vows

especially : an establishment for monks

Synonyms

• abbey
• cloister
• friary
• hermitage
• priory

Examples of monastery in a Sentence

Gregory Mendel worked out his concepts of genetics by doing breeding experiments using pea plants in the monastery's garden.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Vatican has denied that Prevost permitted Ray to live at the monastery. —Christopher Cann, USA Today, 9 May 2025

In 2015, David and his wife made Texas their primary residence after retiring from their jobs at a Buddhist monastery in Woodstock, N.Y., where David was executive director for three years. —Serge F. Kovaleski, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025

The ingredient arrived in Christian monasteries, where scribes would dissolve it in water to create ink or paint. —Erik Zou, JSTOR Daily, 25 Apr. 2025

The trick now is knowing where to go and which Muay Thai boxing schools, silent monasteries, or health spas to choose. —Lee Cobaj, Robb Report, 24 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English monasterie, from Late Latin monasterium, from Late Greek monastērion, from Greek, hermit's cell, from monazein to live alone, from monos single — more at monk

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for monastery

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• beriberi
• breviary
• budgetary
• capillary
• catenary
• cautionary

Kids Definition

monastery

noun

mon·​as·​tery ˈmän-ə-ˌster-ē 

plural monasteries

: a place where a community of monks or nuns live and work

monasterial

ˌmän-ə-ˈstir-ē-əl

adjective