rectory

noun

rec·​to·​ry ˈrek-t(ə-)rē How to pronounce rectory (audio)
plural rectories
1
: a benefice held by a rector
2
: a residence of a rector or a parish priest

Examples of rectory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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His father, Louis, now a widower, stayed with him and the other Augustinians for more than a month in their rectory, cooking meals and participating in the fraternal life. Mitra Taj, New York Times, 17 May 2025 What To Know On April 3, first responders were called to the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church rectory at 2:50 pm, following a report of gunshots. John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025 Deputies from the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office responded to the shooting at the church’s rectory at 411 Pioneer Street about 2:55 p.m. Thursday and discovered Carasala outside with gunshot wounds, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation said in a news release Thursday. Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2025 Cook County tax records show the archdiocese sold the St. Mary of the Assumption property — which encompasses the church itself, the school, convent, rectory and annex — to a company called Eugene Benjamin Properties in 2019 for just under $250,000. Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for rectory

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rectory was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Rectory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rectory. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

rectory

noun
rec·​to·​ry ˈrek-t(ə-)rē How to pronounce rectory (audio)
plural rectories
: a residence of a rector or a parish priest

More from Merriam-Webster on rectory

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