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 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 Georgian Orthodox nuns living in a nearby abbey served us a hearty lunch of lentil soup, beef patties and cheese pie. — Lori Rackl, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026 In the 17th century, as the abbey's importance declined, its vast collection of manuscripts was shifted to another abbey in Rome, then moved to the Vatican and finally on to a small church. — CBS News, 17 May 2026 Eugenio Scarpa bought land around a minuscule port known for its old abbey—opatija in Croatian—and put up a villa, christening it Angiolina after his late wife. — Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for abbey
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abbey
  1. monastery
  2. cloister
Noun
  • Rooms The style is monastery chic with the recent restyling raising the stakes considerably adding a new sense of design that was absent before.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
  • When the Dark Ages descended on the ancient world, Benedict of Nursia ignited a monastic revival that would establish thousands of monasteries and train generations of devoted readers.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of monastery
Noun
  • On its edge is the Romanesque church of Pieve di San Leolino, which features a 16th-century cloister and valley views.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The town served as a Genoese naval outpost during the medieval rivalry with Pisa, and the hotel’s arched colonnades of the original cloister still stand atop rooms that face Palmaria Island or the Gulf itself.
    — Jason Phillips, USA Today, 22 July 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 20 Aug. 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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