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DictionaryprioryReligious house
noun

priory

PRY-uh-ree/ˈpraɪəri/

a religious house governed by a prior or prioress

The prior welcomes visitors to the priory after morning prayers.

Small peaceful medieval monastery with cloister courtyard, robed prior meeting two monks.
Etymology
prioryLatinprior's office or monastery

Latin prioria named both a prior's office and the monastery under that officer's rule. The title prior meant “superior,” so the word identifies a religious community by its governing rank.

In context

Forward Boldly33:20
so even after we purchase the property i'm going to need about 500 000 euros to renovate our priory church a monastery without a church
Dom Mark Kirby, OSB, Silverstream Priory, Ireland

More examples

  • The nuns live in a small priory near the river.
  • The prioress oversees daily life at the priory.
  • Several medieval priories still stand in the region.

Forms

priory · priories

prior noun — a monk who heads a priory

prioress noun — a nun who heads a priory

Similar words

monastery
A broader term that does not specify the superior's title.
abbey
Governed by an abbot or abbess rather than a prior.
convent
Usually houses nuns, without specifying the leader's title.