Definition of "abbey" in English

noun

1. The office or dominion of an abbot or abbess.

2. A monastery or society of people, secluded from the world and devoted to religion and celibacy, which is headed by an abbot or abbess; also, the monastic building or buildings.

   • Near-synonym: convent
   • From 1199 to 1203 William Punchard was the abbot of the abbey of Rievaulx, which was part of the Cistercian order of monks.

3. The church of a monastery.

4. (British English) A residence that was previously an abbatial building.