Definitions:

1. Refers to the office, term or jurisdiction of an abbot or abbess. NOUN
   • His abbacy was marked by reforms in monastic discipline and education.
2. The administration or domain of an abbey. NOUN
   • The abbey flourished during the abbacy of Benedict XII.
3. The position or period of rule of an abbot or abbess. NOUN
   • The records show that her abbacy lasted nearly two decades.
4. The position, term, rights, or authority of an abbot or abbess, who is the leader of a monatery or a convent. NOUN
   • The medieval abbacy stood as a symbol of religious authority, overseeing the spiritual life of the community.

Synonyms:

• abbatial
• abbey
• abbotship