abbey

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.

“Abbey” is pronounced AB-ee (/ˈæb.i/ in IPA).

Here is “abbey” used in a sentence: “The monks have lived at the abbey for centuries.”

Depending on how it is used, “abbey” can be a noun and a name.

The word “abbey” comes from Late Latin. From Old French abaïe, from Late Latin abbātia, ultimately from Latin abbās ("abbot").

“Abbey” is a fairly common word in modern English.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.