abbey
/ˈæbi/
NOUN
1. Monastery or religious community
A religious institution or community of monks or nuns living under the authority of an abbot or abbess, often including the buildings in which they live and worship.
1.1. Monastic buildings and communities
Used to refer to a religious establishment where monks or nuns live according to a monastic rule, as well as the associated buildings and communal life.
Synonyms
- monastery
- convent
- cloister
- friary
- nunnery
- priory
Examples
- The travelers visited an ancient abbey nestled in the countryside.
- The monks lived in the abbey and devoted their days to prayer and study.
- The historic abbey preserved centuries of religious and cultural traditions.
Related Words
1.2. Religious retreat and secluded life
Used when emphasizing an abbey as a secluded place where members of a religious community withdraw from ordinary worldly activities to pursue prayer, contemplation, and spiritual discipline.
Synonyms
- monastery
- cloister
- hermitage
Examples
- She spent several days at the abbey seeking peace and spiritual reflection.
- The remote abbey offered its residents a quiet life devoted to contemplation.
Related Words
- seclusion
- contemplation
- prayer
- meditation
- solitude
- devotion
- spiritual retreat
NOUN
2. Church belonging to a monastery
A church that forms part of an abbey and serves the worship needs of its monastic community and, in some cases, the surrounding public.
2.1. Monastic worship and church buildings
Used to refer specifically to the church associated with an abbey, where religious services, communal prayers, and other worship activities take place.
Synonyms
- abbey church
- monastic church
- conventual church
Examples
- The abbey was renowned for its magnificent church and its elaborate stone carvings.
- Visitors gathered inside the abbey church to admire its medieval architecture.
- The monks assembled in the monastic church for evening prayers.