abbey

noun

ˈa-bē How to pronounce abbey (audio)
Definition of abbeynext
as in monastery
a residence for men under religious vows the monks in the abbey grow all their own vegetables

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of abbey At the time, a rep for the couple told PEOPLE that the ceremony took place at a medieval abbey at La Cervara with 100 family and friends. — Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026 Unfortunately, the abbey fell into a state of disrepair for many years until Philippe Pascal and his family acquired the property in 2004 and upgraded not just the estate but the entire region’s standing. — Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 17 June 2026 The complex, which includes an 11th-century Benedictine abbey and a 16th-century basilica, is revered for its Black Madonna statue and is home to a boy's choir that has existed since the 13th century and is Europe's oldest. — ABC News, 10 June 2026 The complex, which includes an 11th-century Benedictine abbey and a 16th-century basilica, is revered for its Black Madonna statue and is home to a boy’s choir that has existed since the 13th century and is Europe’s oldest. — Joseph Wilson, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for abbey
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abbey
  1. monastery
  2. cloister
Noun
  • The high jewelry collection was presented inside a 12th-century church on San Clemente Island, a secluded island in the Venetian lagoon that once served as a monastery and later an asylum before becoming home to a luxury hotel.
    — Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Smoke and fire rise from the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery following a Russian missile strike this month.
    — Elmira Aliieva, NBC news, 30 June 2026
Definition of monastery
Noun
  • The cathedral, its peaceful cloister, and its ornate crypt are also worth a visit.
    — Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 25 June 2026
  • In Rome, Le Graal will open the city’s first private members’ club of its kind inside Palazzo Medici Clarelli on the historic Via Giulia, with 11 rooms and suites, two restaurants, a cloister lounge, American bar, speakeasy, cigar room, wine cellar, gym, and treatment rooms.
    — Rachel Ingram, Robb Report, 21 June 2026
Definition of cloister

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Cite this Entry

“Abbey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abbey. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on abbey

Nglish: Translation of abbey for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about abbey

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