nunnery

[ nuhn-uh-ree ]

noun

, plural nun·ner·ies.

1. a building or group of buildings for nuns; nun; convent.

nunnery

/ ˈnʌnərɪ /

noun

1. the convent or religious house of a community of nuns

Word History and Origins

Origin of nunnery¹

First recorded in 1225–75, nunnery is from the Middle English word nonnerie. See nun ¹, -ery

Example Sentences

She later founded a nunnery in India focused on giving women in Tibetan Buddhism some of the opportunities reserved for monks.

From Seattle Times

The nunneries around Florence are filled with girls without dowries.

From Literature

Her father was out of the picture and her mother, a Parisian courtesan, had shuttled her daughter around France — to a boarding school, a countryside nursery, a nunnery.

From New York Times

Though they were obedient, “occasionally a note of bitterness crept out,” Hadlow said, citing letters the sisters wrote to each other marked “the nunnery.”

From Los Angeles Times

“If you don’t want your pants pulled about, don’t become a model! Join a nunnery, there’ll always be a place for you in the convent. They’re recruiting even!”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cloister