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• abbot
  abbot

  noun

  a man who is the head or superior, usually elected, of a monastery.
• Abbot
  Abbot

  noun

  Charles Greeley, 1872–1973, U.S. astrophysicist.

abbot

¹ American  

[ab-uht] / ˈæb ət /

noun

• abbots
  plural

1. a man who is the head or superior, usually elected, of a monastery.

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Abbot ² American  

[ab-uht] / ˈæb ət /

noun

1. Charles Greeley, 1872–1973, U.S. astrophysicist.

2. Also Abbott a first name.

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abbot British  

/ ˈæbət /

noun

1. the superior of an abbey of monks

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• abbotcy
  noun
• abbotship
  noun
• subabbot
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• abbots
  plural

Etymology

Origin of abbot

First recorded before 900; Middle English, variant of abbat, from Latin abbāt- (stem of abbās ), from Greek, from Aramaic abbā; replacing Middle English, Old English abbod (compare Old High German abbat ), from Late Latin abbād- for abbāt-; cf. Abba ¹ ( def. )

Explanation

An abbot is the head of a monastery. Just as businesses have bosses and teams have coaches, the monastery has an abbot. The word abbot comes from the Greek abbas, which means "father” as a title with honor. An abbot is the superior of a monastery, the father of the fathers — in other words. Other monks must obey the abbot, and the abbot should lead and inspire all the monks.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

abbot Abbot abbots

"People are facing many economic hardships," said the abbot, U Thudassa.

From Barron's ● Mar. 26, 2026

“I am looking forward to the silence finally stopping, because 54 years of silence is a long time,” said Bishop Kassianos of Aravissos, the abbot of the seminary.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 1, 2025

Police said the case first came to their attention in mid-June, when they learned that an abbot in Bangkok had suddenly left the monkhood after being extorted by a woman.

From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2025

“That’s something you must resolve on your own,” the abbot said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2024

William says, "I don't think my abbot would have sent a Bible to be burned."

From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz

Abbot guides blue shark snorkelling trips off of Pembrokeshire and was on a scheduled snorkelling trip in the Celtic Sea on 25 September when he discovered the rare find.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

After opening its first Devon club in Newton Abbot in 2018, there are now 14 clubs in the county.

From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026

Competitors for Afib products exist, mainly Abbot Laboratories.

From Barron's ● May 28, 2026

Irth’s team includes Mack Abbot, a former employee of Starboard Value, the activist hedge fund that made an investment in Papa Johns several years ago and whose founder became chairman of its board.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 11, 2026

Not normally given to anger, the Abbot stared Cluny in the eye, his face a mask of cold fury.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

The number of temples has tripled, monks and abbots have become well-known public figures, and China has used the faith to build ties around the world, sending nuns and monks on goodwill missions.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 15, 2018

There are also temples which have attracted large and dedicated followings, through skilful promotion of charismatic monks and abbots, said to have supernatural powers.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2017

Splattered across the lands of central Europe are countless territories overseen by an emperor who shared power with a hierarchy spanning princes, bishops and dukes, down to abbots, knights and city councils.

From Economist ● Apr. 14, 2016

It also provides name checks for the successive abbots who oversaw the commission: Jerome and Benedetto.

From New York Times ● Jun. 17, 2015

Mozetta, mō-tset′ta, n. a short cape to which a hood may be attached, worn by popes, cardinals, bishops, abbots.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

Related Words

• monk