monastery
gb/mˈɑnəstˌɛɹi/ us/mˈɑnəstˌɛɹi/
B2
English
~ 6600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
building where monks live
A religious house where monks or other religious people live and pray together.
Usage pattern:
a/an [adjective] monastery
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "monastery" with "church" or "temple". A church or temple is where people go to worship, but they do not usually live there. A monastery is mainly a place where religious people live. Learners also mix up "monastery" and "convent"; in modern English, "convent" is more often for nuns, while "monastery" is more often for monks.
Synonyms
abbey (Often a large or important monastery or convent, sometimes with its own church; used especially in historical or Catholic contexts.)
|
convent (Similar type of religious house, but more commonly used for communities of nuns rather than monks.)
|
cloister (Can mean a covered walkway in a monastery, or more generally a monastic place of life; slightly more literary or architectural.)
Antonyms
city (Represents busy, secular life, which contrasts with the quiet, religious, separated life usually associated with a monastery.)
Collocations
Buddhist monastery
|ancient monastery
|remote monastery
|live in a monastery
|enter a monastery
|visit a monastery
Themes
religion
|architecture
|culture
|housing
Examples
- The monastery was built on a mountain overlooking the valley.
- Tourists can visit the monastery, but some areas are reserved for the monks.
- After years of travel, he decided to retire to a remote monastery.
- The monastery includes a church, a library, and simple rooms for the monks.
- The village depends on the monastery for jobs and education.
Learner examples
- The monks live in a small monastery in the hills.
- We visited a famous monastery during our trip.
- There is an old monastery near the river.
- Many people come to the monastery to pray.
- The monastery is quiet and peaceful.
Noun
C1
entity
2
community of monks in a monastery
All the monks or other religious people who live together in one monastery.
Usage pattern:
the [adjective] monastery [verb]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that "monastery" can mean both the building and the group of people who live there. When the word is used as the subject of a verb ("the monastery decided"), it usually means the community, not the physical building.
Synonyms
religious community (A broad, neutral term for people who live a religious life together; not limited to monastic life but often used similarly.)
|
brotherhood (Emphasizes the close social and spiritual bond among male members of a religious or monastic group.)
|
order (Refers to an organized group within a church that follows a particular rule; may include multiple monasteries, not just one.)
Antonyms
laity (Refers to ordinary religious believers who are not part of a formal religious or monastic community.)
Collocations
the whole monastery
|the monastery decided
|the monastery welcomed
|support the monastery
|donations to the monastery
Themes
religion
|society
|relationships
Examples
- The monastery voted to open a small school for local children.
- In winter the monastery produces cheese and honey to sell in nearby towns.
- The monastery welcomed the new novice with a simple ceremony.
- For centuries the monastery has cared for travelers crossing the mountains.
- The monastery agreed to share its water supply with the neighboring village.
Learner examples
- The monastery makes bread and gives it to poor people.
- Every day the monastery meets to pray together.
- The monastery decided to help after the flood.
- People in the town like the monastery and support it.
- The monastery invited visitors to join the evening prayer.
Grammar
Dictionary form
monastery
IPA
GB/mˈɑnəstˌɛɹi/
US/mˈɑnəstˌɛɹi/
Syllables & stress
mon - as - tery (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (mon)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: monastery
- Plural: monasteries
Word family
Expressions
enter a monastery
1/ˈɛntɚ ə mˈɑnəstˌɛɹi/
fixed phrase
become a monk or similar
To go and live in a monastery in order to become a monk or another kind of monastic religious person.
Examples
- After his wife died, he chose to enter a monastery and live a life of prayer.
- She surprised her family when she announced that she wanted to enter a monastery instead of going to university.
- Many young men from the village used to enter a monastery when they were in their twenties.
leave the monastery
1/lˈiv ðə mˈɑnəstˌɛɹi/
fixed phrase
stop living as a monk
To stop living in a monastery and return to normal life outside the monastic community.
Examples
- He decided to leave the monastery after ten years and study medicine.
- Once you leave the monastery, it can be difficult to adjust to city life again.