abbey

¹ American  

[ab-ee] / ˈæb i /

noun

plural

abbeys

1. a monastery under the supervision of an abbot or a convent under the supervision of an abbess.

2. the group of buildings comprising such a monastery or convent.

3. the church of an abbey.

---

Abbey ² American  

[ab-ee] / ˈæb i /

noun

1. Edward, 1927–89, U.S. novelist and nature writer.

2. Edwin Austin, 1852–1911, U.S. painter and illustrator.

3. a first name, form of Abigail.

---

abbey British  

/ ˈæbɪ /

noun

1. a building inhabited by a community of monks or nuns governed by an abbot or abbess

2. a church built in conjunction with such a building

3. such a community of monks or nuns

---

Etymology

Origin of abbey

1200–50; Middle English abbey ( e ) < Old French abeie < Late Latin abbātia abbacy

Example Sentences

Chinese brides lining up to marry in Yorkshire abbey.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

First seen in its full glory at the nearby abbey of St. Denis, Gothic architecture served an age without electricity—one that learned to reduce its walls to their physical minimum in order to welcome sunlight.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 3, 2025

She did not date a Nazi named Rolf, and she did not call out “Rolf, please!” while hiding in an abbey.

From Slate • Jan. 26, 2025

Two of the three solicitors representing victims described responses from the abbey and their legal team as "the most hostile" they had ever received from any organisation.

From BBC • Dec. 9, 2024

With a helpful nudge from the abbey, Mendel was selected—although there was a catch.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Related Words

• nunnery