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Synonyms

priory

American  
[prahy-uh-ree] / ˈpraɪ ə ri /

noun

  • priories
    plural
  1. a religious house governed by a prior or prioress, often dependent upon an abbey.


priory British  
/ ˈpraɪərɪ /

noun

  1. a religious house governed by a prior, sometimes being subordinate to an abbey

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of priory

1250–1300; Middle English priorie < Medieval Latin priōria. See prior 2, -y 3


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:

Enthralled by Burbage’s big talk, John Brayne sold his house, let his business slide and coughed up the money needed to begin construction amid the ruins of a medieval priory.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 7, 2025

Fitzwalter revealed his true identity and gave his land to the priory on the condition a flitch should be awarded to any couple who could claim they were similarly devoted.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2024

The mould was found by a metal detectorist two miles from the former priory at Mottisfont in Hampshire.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2023

The ruins of a priory, with its dramatic rainbow arch, still stand, as does a Tudor castle whose imposing silhouette dominates the landscape.

From New York Times ● Aug. 27, 2022

“I’m working in the priory kitchen now. They might need me more if Sister Fenella’s ill.”

From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman

And Alison is the kind of plucky heroine who teases her lover about his research: “Lost treasures, haunted priories, secret maps? I think I saw that movie once.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026

The tax agreement has been one of Ms. Yellen’s top priories as Treasury secretary.

From New York Times ● May 16, 2022

His companions were genuine lay brothers, able to lead him through the marshes and waterways to isolated hermitages and priories, where he would be able to plan his next moves.

From BBC ● Dec. 26, 2020

Gov. Sam Brownback has made water one of his top priories since taking office with his staff developing a plan to sustain the state’s water resources.

From Washington Times ● Jan. 27, 2017

Monks of the Middle Ages had noted its favourable situation for a religious community, and the canons-regular of the Order of St Augustine had erected there one of their priories.

From The Red River Colony A Chronicle of the Beginnings of Manitoba by Louis Aubrey Wood

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