abbey
noun
a monastery under the supervision of an abbot or a convent under the supervision of an abbess.
abbey
1 American
[ab-ee]
/ ˈæb i /
noun
-
abbeys
plural
-
a monastery under the supervision of an abbot or a convent under the supervision of an abbess.
-
the group of buildings comprising such a monastery or convent.
-
the church of an abbey.
Abbey
2
American
[ab-ee]
/ ˈæb i /
noun
-
Edward, 1927–89, U.S. novelist and nature writer.
-
Edwin Austin, 1852–1911, U.S. painter and illustrator.
-
a first name, form of Abigail.
abbey
British
/ ˈæbɪ /
noun
-
a building inhabited by a community of monks or nuns governed by an abbot or abbess
-
a church built in conjunction with such a building
-
such a community of monks or nuns
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of abbey
1200–50; Middle English abbey ( e ) < Old French abeie < Late Latin abbātia abbacy
Explanation
An abbey is a church that's part of a monastery or convent. You'll often find monks or nuns in an abbey. There are a few types of abbeys, but they're all related to intense religious dedication. An abbey can be a monastery or convent, which is either composed of monks or nuns who have withdrawn from society to live a life of poverty and chastity. You can also call a church associated with a monastery or convent an abbey. That type of abbey will be run by the monks or nuns but also open to other churchgoers.
Vocabulary lists containing abbey
Medieval Europe - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Reports in Polish media said the attacker first injured a priest in a nearby cafe, and then another four people inside the abbey itself.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026
Before the Sagrada Familia mass on Wednesday, he is due to visit a prison and an abbey in the Montserrat mountain range overlooking Barcelona.
From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026
To reach the abbey, visitors must climb the town’s famous 199 steps that rise along the cliff.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 14, 2026
Chinese brides lining up to marry in Yorkshire abbey.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 31, 2026
Bors had managed to find him at an abbey, during his two days’ absence, and now he came back in the nick of time to fight Sir Mador for the Queen.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
Unlike the Fab Four at Abbey Road, OTC mostly recorded at home.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
Apple Corps said visitors would be taken on a journey from the band's post-war Liverpool roots through Hamburg, The Cavern, Beatlemania, Abbey Road, Shea Stadium, Savile Row and beyond.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026
Seeds were sourced from London's last remaining tower mustard populations in Lesnes Abbey Woods in Bexley and Stain Hill Reservoir in Richmond-upon-Thames.
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026
Elsewhere around the county, traces of centuries-old gardens were found in Bishop's Palace in Wells, while relics of old structures were uncovered at Glastonbury Abbey due to the record-breaking summer temperatures.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
“And that’s exactly what Charlotte and the team from Kinloch Abbey just did.”
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
While walking the Becket Way, her group will join prayer services at churches, cathedrals and abbeys, as well as meeting with other pilgrims and visiting schools.
From BBC ● Mar. 13, 2026
If you’re new to her work, here is where to start with Groff’s sprawling canon, which spans from steamy Florida swamps to medieval abbeys with a gift for the unexpected.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2026
Abbey beers, which involve a brewer paying royalties in exchange for using the abbey name, are common in Belgium, but until now they have only been with abbeys housing monks.
From Reuters ● Dec. 10, 2021
Many of these abbeys outlived the age that created them, and their garden forms were borrowed in the more secular landscapes that followed.
From Washington Post ● Jun. 9, 2020
It is possible, though, to reconstruct, to some extent, the chants that were being sung in churches and abbeys from around the fourth century onwards, from manuscripts of various kinds.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
