noun
Common
abbey
AB-ee
Abbey (noun) means a monastery or convent, or the buildings that house it, led by an abbot or abbess. Example: “Tourists queue to visit the ruined abbey on the hill.”
noun
1
A monastery or convent, or the buildings that house it, led by an abbot or abbess.
"Tourists queue to visit the ruined abbey on the hill."
"The abbey bell rang out across the quiet valley every morning."
"The monks have lived at the abbey for centuries."
2
A building that was once a monastery, now often used as a stately home or historic site.
"Visitors can walk around the ruined abbey and see where the monks once lived."
"We had our wedding reception in a beautiful abbey surrounded by gardens."
"The family turned the old abbey into a country house."
name
1
A diminutive of the given name Abigail.
"Everyone at school calls her Abbey."
How to use abbey
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA monastery, or the historic building that used to be one — also a common short form of the name Abigail.
Common pairings
Westminster Abbey
abbey ruins
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Word forms
- Plural
- abbeys
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Tourists queue to visit the ruined _____ on the hill.
Etymology
From Old French abaïe, from Late Latin abbātia, ultimately from Latin abbās ("abbot").
Related words
Rhymes for abbey
See all rhymes for abbey →Frequently asked questions
What does “abbey” mean?
The word “abbey” means a monastery or convent, or the buildings that house it, led by an abbot or abbess. In plain terms, a monastery, or the historic building that used to be one — also a common short form of the name Abigail.
How do you pronounce “abbey”?
“Abbey” is pronounced AB-ee (/ˈæb.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “abbey” in a sentence?
Here is “abbey” used in a sentence: “The monks have lived at the abbey for centuries.”
What part of speech is “abbey”?
Depending on how it is used, “abbey” can be a noun and a name.
Where does the word “abbey” come from?
The word “abbey” comes from Late Latin. From Old French abaïe, from Late Latin abbātia, ultimately from Latin abbās ("abbot").
Is “abbey” a common word?
“Abbey” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “abbey” have?
“Abbey” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a monastery or convent, or the buildings that house it, led by an abbot or abbess.
What is the difference between an abbey and a monastery?
A monastery is any community of monks or nuns living together under religious vows, while an abbey is a specific type of monastery headed by an abbot or abbess. Every abbey is a monastery, but not every monastery has the rank of an abbey.
What is the difference between an abbey and a priory?
Both are monastic houses, but an abbey is led by an abbot or abbess and is usually larger or more senior, while a priory is led by a prior or prioress and often ranks below or depends on an abbey. The title reflects both the leader and the standing of the house.
What is the difference between an abbey and a cathedral?
An abbey is a monastery and its church, run by an abbot or abbess, while a cathedral is the principal church of a diocese and the seat of a bishop. Some buildings that began as abbeys later became cathedrals.
What is the difference between an abbey and a convent?
A convent is specifically a community of nuns, while an abbey may house monks or nuns and refers to a monastery governed by an abbot or abbess. "Abbey" describes the status of the house rather than the gender of its members.
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