abbey

noun

ab·​bey ˈa-bē 

plural abbeys

1

a

: a monastery ruled by an abbot

b

: a convent ruled by an abbess

2

: an abbey church

Synonyms of abbey

• monastery
• cloister

Examples of abbey in a Sentence

the monks in the abbey grow all their own vegetables

Recent Examples on the Web

The glee with which the abbey was dismantled reflected centuries of tension between the town authorities and the monks. — Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026

Marie painstakingly builds the abbey into a regional power center to which notables must pay their respects. — David Faris, TheWeek, 16 Sep. 2026

The abbey is on private property east of the Capistrano neighborhood and its only outlet is Airport Road to state Route 76. — Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026

The Abbazia di San Fruttuoso, a 10th-century abbey complex owned for centuries by the Dorias, a powerful Genoa family, dominates the cove setting. — Catherine Sabino, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English abbeye, abbay, borrowed from Anglo-French abeie, abbaye, borrowed from Medieval Latin abbātia "abbacy, abbey," from Late Latin abbāt-, abbās abbot + Latin -ia -y entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for abbey

• abbe
• cabbie
• cabby
• flabby
• gabby
• gaby
• scabby
• shabby
• tabby

Kids Definition

abbey

noun

ab·​bey ˈab-ē 

plural abbeys

1

a

: monastery

b

: convent

2

: a church that once belonged to an abbey

Westminster Abbey

Biographical Definition

Abbey

biographical name

Ab·​bey ˈa-bē 

Edwin Austin 1852–1911 American painter and illustrator