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 a season full on injury and availability issues, the only players left on the infirmary report are Josh Manson, who hasn’t played since Feb. 4 but skated Tuesday morning at Family Sports Center, and captain Gabe Landeskog. Corey Masisak, The Denver Post, 27 Feb. 2025 The footage shows one officer kicking Mr. Brooks, whose face is bloodied, and then forcing him onto his back on an infirmary examination table while another officer punches Mr. Brooks in the upper body. Ed Shanahan, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025 Body camera footage shows Brooks' hands tied behind his back in a prison infirmary as officers punched him, hit him with a shoe, lifted him by his neck, pushed him up against a wall, and stripped him of his clothing before medical personnel entered an examination room to assess him. Casey Pritchard, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2025 Bringing The Odyssey cruise ship to life was no mean feat–from a fully functioning pool on the leisure deck to the most stylish infirmary a doctor could ask for, this set creates a luxurious backdrop for all the show’s medical drama. Hannah Martin, Architectural Digest, 16 Jan. 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 13 Mar. 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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