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Synonyms

abbot

1 American  
[ab-uht] / ˈæb ət /

noun

  1. a man who is the head or superior, usually elected, of a monastery.

Abbot 2 American  
[ab-uht] / ˈæb ət /

noun

  1. Charles Greeley, 1872–1973, U.S. astrophysicist.

  2. Also Abbott a first name.

abbot British  
/ ˈæbət /

noun

  1. the superior of an abbey of monks

"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

  • abbotcy noun
  • abbotship noun
  • subabbot noun

Etymology

Origin of abbot

First recorded before 900; Middle English, variant of abbat, from Latin abbāt- (stem of abbās ), from Greek, from Aramaic abbā; replacing Middle English, Old English abbod (compare Old High German abbat ), from Late Latin abbād- for abbāt-; Abba 1 ( def. )

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.

"People are facing many economic hardships," said the abbot, U Thudassa.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

“I am looking forward to the silence finally stopping, because 54 years of silence is a long time,” said Bishop Kassianos of Aravissos, the abbot of the seminary.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 1, 2025

Police said the case first came to their attention in mid-June, when they learned that an abbot in Bangkok had suddenly left the monkhood after being extorted by a woman.

From BBC • Jul. 16, 2025

When the abbot began taking questions, Seong-hun raised his hand.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2024

“For this lion is not the king of beasts! There is one greater than him. His abbot, Hubert the Good. Do you want to tame the lion? Go to his master!”

From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.