monastery

noun

mon·​as·​tery ˈmä-nə-ˌster-ē How to pronounce monastery (audio)
plural monasteries
Synonyms of monasterynext
: a house for persons under religious vows
especially : an establishment for monks

Synonyms of monastery

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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.
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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.
The route passes through Sherpa villages and Buddhist monasteries before reaching the base of the world’s tallest mountain, according to the Nepal Tourism Board. — Ashley Lynch july 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026 The discovery began in 2024, when a representative of the monastery's preservation association asked Tornau to decipher the manuscript. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026 This comprehensive guide explores 100 spectacular travel opportunities, including witnessing the Northern Lights in Norway, cruising down the Nile River and visiting Bhutan’s monasteries. — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 28 July 2026 Catherine Coldstream entered a Carmelite monastery at age 24, and lived a life of prayer and obedience for 12 years. — Terry Gross, NPR, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for monastery

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of monastery was in the 15th century

Rhymes for monastery

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Browse Nearby Words

monasterial
monastery
monastic
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Cite this Entry

“Monastery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monastery. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

monastery

noun
mon·​as·​tery ˈmän-ə-ˌster-ē How to pronounce monastery (audio)
plural monasteries
: a place where a community of monks or nuns live and work
monasterial
ˌmän-ə-ˈstir-ē-əl
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on monastery

Nglish: Translation of monastery for Spanish Speakers

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