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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."
2
A school run by such a religious community.
"He was educated at a strict convent school."

How to use convent

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA religious community (traditionally of nuns) and the building it lives in, or a school run by one.

Easily confused with

Word forms

convented past tense, convents plural, convents singular

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Test yourself on “convent” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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."

Origin: Latin

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.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial