infirmary

noun

in·​fir·​ma·​ry in-ˈfər-mə-rē 

-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

The Guadalupe camp’s infirmary – known as Heaven Can Wait – was run by Dick’s daughter-in-law Mary Liz, a former Mystic camper and registered nurse who treated many sick and injured children herself. —Andy Rose, CNN Money, 3 May 2026

Those beds sat empty for 15 months, while the most ill people on Rikers lay in a garage converted into an infirmary. —Jonathan Lippman, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026

The report shows that upon his arrival, jailers placed him in the infirmary to monitor a dog bite wound that doctors at University of Florida Health Flagler Hospital had treated shortly after he was arrested. —Nichole Manna, ProPublica, 28 Apr. 2026

Backup center Jonas Valanciunas joined Jokic in the infirmary after suffering an injury in the third quarter. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

infirmary

noun

in·​fir·​ma·​ry in-ˈfərm-(ə-)rē 

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 

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