# glebe

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/glebe
Updated: 2026-10-17

## Definition

a piece of land that belongs to a local church and helps support the priest.

For teachers: a tract of land attached to a parish church and held as part of a clergyman's benefice to provide income. Historically farmed directly or leased to tenants.

## Examples

- The old priest farms the glebe behind the church.
- The parish rents out the glebe to a local farmer to help pay for church repairs.
- The overgrown glebe, once tilled by successive vicars to supplement a meagre stipend, now stands leased to a neighbouring estate.

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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.