infirmary

noun

in·​fir·​ma·​ry in-ˈfər-mə-rē 

-ˈfərm-rē

plural infirmaries

1

: a place (as in a school or prison) where sick or injured individuals receive care and treatment

2

: a large medical facility : hospital

Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

Examples of infirmary in a Sentence

One of the students became ill and was sent to the infirmary.

Recent Examples on the Web

Some, due to age or infirmary, may not have access to computers that need to be used to complete the web forms. —Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025

Last month 10 former New York corrections employees were indicted in the killing of Robert Brooks, an inmate violently beaten while handcuffed in a prison infirmary in December. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2025

Some died from other forms of violence, like Robert Brooks, an inmate who died after being violently beaten by multiple officers while handcuffed in a New York prison infirmary. —N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025

Before being transported to court for the appearance, Moore had been held at the North Infirmary Command on Rikers Island, a facility that houses individuals with acute medical conditions or disabilities requiring infirmary care. —Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

infirmary

noun

in·​fir·​ma·​ry in-ˈfərm-(ə-)rē 

plural infirmaries

: a place (as in a school or camp) for the care of sick or injured people

also : hospital

Medical Definition

infirmary

noun

in·​fir·​ma·​ry in-ˈfərm-(ə-)rē 

plural infirmaries

1

: a place (as in a school or prison) where sick or injured individuals receive care and treatment

2

: a large medical facility : hospital

Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary