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

He previously performed as Sam Battle, frontman of the indie rock band Zibra which appeared at Glastonbury 2015 as part of BBC Introducing.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 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

Good news for cows, bad news for music fans: Glastonbury takes a fallow year in 2026.

From BBC • Dec. 29, 2025

Only a few months ago, she and Curt had gone to England for the Glastonbury Festival, and later spent two days in London.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie