infirmary

noun

in·​fir·​ma·​ry in-ˈfər-mə-rē How to pronounce infirmary (audio)
-ˈfərm-rē
plural infirmaries
1
: a place (as in a school or prison) where sick or injured individuals receive care and treatment
2
: a large medical facility : hospital
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

Examples of infirmary in a Sentence

One of the students became ill and was sent to the infirmary.
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.
After the beating, another correction sergeant, Donald Slawson, mopped up the blood in the infirmary, preventing investigators from finding any blood spatter to analyze, prosecutors allege. Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2025 Last month 10 former New York corrections employees were indicted in the killing of Robert Brooks, an inmate violently beaten while handcuffed in a prison infirmary in December. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2025 Some, due to age or infirmary, may not have access to computers that need to be used to complete the web forms. Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025 Last month 10 former New York corrections employees were indicted in the killing of Robert Brooks, an inmate violently beaten while handcuffed in a prison infirmary in December. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for infirmary

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of infirmary was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Infirmary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infirmary. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

infirmary

noun
in·​fir·​ma·​ry in-ˈfərm-(ə-)rē How to pronounce infirmary (audio)
plural infirmaries
: a place (as in a school or camp) for the care of sick or injured people
also : hospital

Medical Definition

infirmary

noun
in·​fir·​ma·​ry in-ˈfərm-(ə-)rē How to pronounce infirmary (audio)
plural infirmaries
1
: a place (as in a school or prison) where sick or injured individuals receive care and treatment
2
: a large medical facility : hospital
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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