Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

monastery

Pronunciation: /ˈmɒnəst(ə)ri/
Translate monastery | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of monastery

noun (plural monasteries)

  • a building or buildings occupied by a community of monks living under religious vows.

Origin:

late Middle English: via ecclesiastical Latin from ecclesiastical Greek monastērion, from monazein 'live alone', from monos 'alone'

Spelling help

The ending of monastery is spelled -ery.

monastery in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of monastery in the US English dictionary
  |  Cite
Oxford Dictionaries Pro

For Oxford's best resources for writers, plus thesaurus, audio, and 1.9m examples.

Shop for an Oxford dictionary

Find the perfect Oxford dictionary for you in our online shop.
SHOP NOW ►

Word of the day

monocular

/ məˈnɒkjʊlə /
adjective , noun
with, for, or in one eye …