noun
Uncommon
convent
KON-vehnt
Convent (noun) means a community of nuns or monks living together under religious vows, or the building where they live. Example: “She entered the convent at the age of nineteen.”
noun
1
A community of nuns or monks living together under religious vows, or the building where they live.
"She entered the convent at the age of nineteen."
"The old convent on the hill is now a museum."
"The nuns of the convent spend their mornings in quiet prayer."
2
A school run by such a religious community.
"He was educated at a strict convent school."
"My grandmother taught at a convent in the countryside for many years."
"The girls at the convent wore grey skirts and white blouses."
How to use convent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA religious community (traditionally of nuns) and the building it lives in, or a school run by one.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- convents
- Third person singular
- convents
- Past tense
- convented
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She entered the _____ at the age of nineteen.
Etymology
From Latin conventus, "a coming together" — the same root as "convene."
Frequently asked questions
What does “convent” mean?
The word “convent” means a community of nuns or monks living together under religious vows, or the building where they live. In plain terms, a religious community (traditionally of nuns) and the building it lives in, or a school run by one.
How do you pronounce “convent”?
“Convent” is pronounced KON-vehnt (/ˈkɑn.vɛnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “convent” in a sentence?
Here is “convent” used in a sentence: “She entered the convent at the age of nineteen.”
What part of speech is “convent”?
“Convent” is a noun.
Where does the word “convent” come from?
The word “convent” comes from Latin. From Latin conventus, "a coming together" — the same root as "convene.".
Is “convent” a common word?
“Convent” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “convent” have?
“Convent” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a community of nuns or monks living together under religious vows, or the building where they live.
