Glastonbury

American  

[glas-tuhn-ber-ee, glas-tuhn-buh-ree] / ˈglæs tənˌbɛr i, ˈglæs tən bə ri /

noun

1. a town of southwest England, in whose vicinity the ruins of an important Iron Age lake village have been found and to which in folklore both King Arthur and Joseph of Arimathea have been linked, the latter as the founder of the abbey there.

2. Glastonbury Festival, a performing arts festival held annually in southwest England.

3. a town in central Connecticut whose western boundary is formed by the Connecticut River.

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Glastonbury British  

/ -brɪ, ˈɡlæstənbərɪ /

noun

1. a town in SW England, in Somerset: remains of prehistoric lake villages; the reputed burial place of King Arthur; site of a ruined Benedictine abbey, probably the oldest in England. Pop: 8429 (2001)

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Etymology

Origin of Glastonbury

Old English Glestingaburg, from Glestinga, a personal name or ethnonym of disputed origin + burg “fortified town” ( borough ( def. ) )

Example Sentences

They have all now hosted DreamHack - one of the biggest e-sports festivals in the world and described by promoters as the "Glastonbury of gaming".

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

A full moon rises over Glastonbury Tor in Somerset, England.

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2026

Instead, she went to London and had herself a “U.K. Girl Summer,” as she says, hitting up Glastonbury where she saw Father John Misty and Charli XCX.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 25, 2026

Having performed at Glastonbury and supported Skepta - one of his inspirations - at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, last year, Oraka "didn't think that could be topped".

From BBC • Dec. 30, 2025

The Glastonbury Festival’s future wasn’t exactly Bavarian chic and hushed reverence either.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall