Illustration of cloister
- cloister 2
clois·ter
ˈklȯi-stər 
1
a
: a monastic establishment
b
: an area within a monastery or convent to which the religious are normally restricted
c
: monastic life
young men and women choosing the cloister as a way of life
d
: a place or state of seclusion
… the Internet broke out of its academic cloister and started cavorting in the mainstream.—
Paul McFedries
Paul McFedries2
: a covered passage on the side of a court usually having one side walled and the other an open arcade or colonnade
The courtyard is surrounded with a cloister.
cloistered; cloistering
ˈklȯi-st(ə-)riŋ
1
: to seclude from the world in or as if in a cloister
a scientist who cloisters herself in a laboratory
policy makers are cloistered for the weekend, trying to stave off a default that they fear could trigger an international financial panic—Art Pine
Art Pine2
: to surround with a cloister
cloistered gardens
Did you know?
Cloister first entered the English language as a noun in the 13th century; it referred then (as it still does) to a convent or monastery. More than three centuries later, English speakers began using the verb cloister to mean "to seclude in or as if in a cloister." Today, the noun can also refer to the monastic life or to a covered and usually arched passage along or around a court. You may also encounter cloistered with the meaning "surrounded with a covered passage," as in "cloistered gardens." Cloister ultimately derives from the Latin verb claudere, meaning "to close." Other words that can be traced back to the prolific claudere include close, conclude, exclude, include, preclude, seclude, and recluse.
Examples of cloister in a Sentence
Noun
monks living in a cloister in the country
Recent Examples on the WebAspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2024
The cloister, which is open to the sky, is the center of the property in every way, with fire pits, music, lounge chairs and tables.
—Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cloister 
Noun
The room, referred to as the cloister, is known to house the tombs of several noble families from the 1300s.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2024
The cloister, which is open to the sky, is the center of the property in every way, with fire pits, music, lounge chairs and tables.
—Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cloister
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cloister.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Cloister.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cloister. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cloister
1 of 2 noun
clois·ter
ˈklȯi-stər
cloister
2 of 2 verb1
: to shut away from the world in or as if in a cloister
leads a cloistered life
2
: to surround with a cloister
cloistered gardens
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