# abbot

/ˈæbət/ (US) · /ˈæbət/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abbot
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. head of a monastery

noun · CEFR B2

the man who is the leader of a monastery or a group of monks.

For teachers: the superior or head of an abbey or monastery for men.

- The abbot led the monks into the chapel for their morning prayers.
- The newly elected abbot was responsible for both the spiritual guidance of the monks and the financial management of the monastery's lands.

Usage: The title is used both as a common noun and as a formal title before a name.

### 2. pimp or brothel associate

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Archaic · Slang

a man who lives with a woman who runs a brothel or who helps a prostitute find customers.

For teachers: a man who is the husband or lover of a brothel-owner, or a man employed by a prostitute to find clients.

- In the old story, the abbot was a dangerous man who protected the illegal house.
- The novel depicts the gritty underworld of Victorian London, where every local abbot and pickpocket knew the movements of the city watch.

Usage: This sense is found almost exclusively in historical literature or dictionaries of Victorian slang.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.