# monastery

/ˈmɑnəˌstɛɹi/ (US) · /mˈɒnɑːstəɹi/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/monastery
Updated: 2026-05-03

## Definition

a building or place where a group of religious people, usually monks, live and work together away from the rest of the world.

For teachers: a building or complex of buildings occupied by a community of monks living under religious vows. Often includes a chapel, library, and communal living quarters.

## Examples

- The monks wake up early to pray in the monastery.
- High in the mountains, the ancient monastery remains a quiet place for study and meditation.
- While many medieval monasteries were centers of agricultural innovation, they primarily served as spiritual hubs where the preservation of classical texts ensured the survival of historical knowledge.

## Usage notes

- Refers specifically to the residence of monks; 'convent' is the traditional term for the residence of nuns.

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