a church associated with a monastery or convent
"The ancient abbey served as both the place of worship and the spiritual home for the monks living in its attached monastery."
a convent ruled by an abbess
"The ancient stone abbey, once ruled by an abbess, now stands silent as a ruin in the valley."
a monastery ruled by an abbot
"The ancient abbey stood as a silent testament to centuries of monastic life under the rule of its abbot."
The office or dominion of an abbot or abbess.
"The ancient abbey held vast lands and significant wealth under the direct authority of its abbot."
In plain English: An abbey is a large religious community led by an abbot where monks live and pray together.
"The old abbey stands quietly on the hill overlooking the town."
Usage: An abbey refers to the physical monastery complex where monks, nuns, or friars live and work under religious vows. It is often used interchangeably with "monastery," though it specifically denotes a house headed by an abbot or abbess rather than an ordinary monk or nun.
A diminutive of the female given name Abigail, from Hebrew.
"My grandmother called me Abby when I was little, but her friends always insisted on using the more formal spelling of abbey."
The word "abbey" comes from the Old French abaïe, meaning a convent led by an abbot. It was originally borrowed into Middle English around 1250 from the Late Latin term abbātia.