glebe: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Historical, Ecclesiastical, Literary
Quick answer
What does “glebe” mean?
A piece of land forming part of a church benefice and providing income for the parish priest.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A piece of land forming part of a church benefice and providing income for the parish priest.
Historically and primarily, a plot of cultivated land belonging to a parish church or ecclesiastical benefice, used to support the incumbent. In a broader, poetic or archaic sense, it can refer to a field, soil, or land in general.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is more likely to be encountered in British historical, legal, or toponymic contexts (e.g., Glebe Farm, Glebe Road). In the US, it is almost exclusively a historical/ecclesiastical term, less common in everyday place names.
Connotations
In the UK, it retains a concrete, institutional connotation related to the Church of England's history. In the US, its use is more abstract and purely historical.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both varieties, but marginally higher in UK English due to its persistence in local history and geography.
Grammar
How to Use “glebe” in a Sentence
the glebe of [the parish church]a glebe attached to [the benefice][priest] lived off the glebeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “glebe” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The glebe lands were surveyed in 1840.
American English
- Glebe rights were defined in the colonial charter.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, legal, and religious studies discussing medieval or early modern European land tenure systems.
Everyday
Extremely rare except in specific UK place names.
Technical
Precise term in English ecclesiastical law and history.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “glebe”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “glebe”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “glebe”
- Using it as a synonym for any field (incorrect outside poetic/archaic use).
- Misspelling as "glee" or "globe".
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a rare, specialized term mostly found in historical, legal, or geographical contexts.
Only in archaic or poetic usage. Its primary, precise meaning is land belonging to a church benefice.
Yes. The parsonage (or vicarage) is the house where the priest lives. The glebe is the agricultural land that provides part of his income.
You might see it in British place names (Glebe Road), in historical novels, or in academic texts on church history.
A piece of land forming part of a church benefice and providing income for the parish priest.
Glebe is usually formal, historical, ecclesiastical, literary in register.
Glebe: in British English it is pronounced /ɡliːb/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡlib/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a GLEAMING BEan field belonging to the church – GLEBE.
Conceptual Metaphor
LAND AS SUSTENANCE (for the church/cleric).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'glebe' most accurately used?