# monastery

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈmɒnəstɹi/ · frequency rank #12,105

## Definitions
1. A residence for monks or others who have taken religious vows.

## Etymology
From Middle English monasterie, from Old French monastere, from Medieval Latin monastērium (“monastery”), from Ancient Greek μοναστήριον (monastḗrion, “hermitage, monastery”), from μοναστήριος (monastḗrios, “alone, made alone”) + -ιον (-ion, “-ium”, suffix forming place names), from μονάζω (monázō, “to be alone”), from μόνος (mónos, “alone”) + -άζω (-ázō, verb-forming suffix). Doublet of minster.

## Easily confused with
- **monster** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/monastery-vs-monster)
- **mastery** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mastery-vs-monastery)

## Common misspellings (14)
`mmonastery`, `mnoastery`, `moanstery`, `monasetry`, `monasstery`, `monasterry`, `monasteryy`, `monasteyr`, `monastrey`, `monasttery`, `monatsery`, `monnastery`, `monsatery`, `omnastery`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/monastery