# Abby

/ˈæbi/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. female name

noun · CEFR A1

a short name for Abigail.

For teachers: a diminutive of the female given name Abigail, often used as a formal given name in its own right.

- My friend Abby is coming over for dinner tonight.
- Abby was originally a nickname for Abigail, but it has gained significant popularity as a standalone name on birth certificates over the last few decades.

### 2. cat breed

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a short name for an Abyssinian cat.

For teachers: a colloquial shorthand for the Abyssinian breed of domestic short-haired cat.

- The breeder showed us a beautiful ruddy Abby with large ears.
- While many cat enthusiasts prefer the full name, breeders often refer to the Abyssinian simply as an Abby when discussing pedigree traits.

### 3. religious building

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

an old way of spelling the word 'abbey'.

For teachers: an obsolete orthographic variant of 'abbey', referring to a monastery or convent.

- In the old book, the monk lived in a stone abby.
- The researcher noted that the 16th-century manuscript consistently used the spelling 'abby' to describe the local monastic community.

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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.