convent

1 of 2

noun

con·​vent ˈkän-vənt How to pronounce convent (audio)
-ˌvent
: a local community or house of a religious order or congregation
especially : an establishment of nuns

convent

2 of 2

verb

con·​vent kən-ˈvent How to pronounce convent (audio)
convented; conventing; convents
obsolete

Examples of convent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
The settings of her novels certainly vary widely, taking place everywhere from a sleepy convent in medieval England to eighteenth-century Andalusia to Paris during the revolutions of 1848. B. Pietras june 10, Literary Hub, 10 June 2025 The Ritual, now in theaters, purports to be based on the true story of Schmidt's exorcism, which took place at a secluded convent just north of Earling, Iowa, in late 1928. Megan McCluskey, Time, 6 June 2025 There's also Hôtel du Couvent, a 17th-century convent that underwent a $100 million renovation and features medieval-modern accommodations, along with a large underground spa. Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 4 June 2025 Catholic seminaries and convents across Vietnam have also expanded in recent years, producing a bumper crop of young priests and nuns. Damien Cave, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for convent

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English covent, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin conventus, from Latin, assembly, from convenire

Verb

Latin conventus, past participle of convenire

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1514, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of convent was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Convent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/convent. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

convent

noun
con·​vent
ˈkän-vənt,
-ˌvent
1
: a community of nuns living together
2
: a house or set of buildings occupied by nuns

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