Head of a monastery

The answer to “Head of a monastery” in the New York Times Mini crossword is ABBOT — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Mini crossword on May 24, 2026 at 6-Across, and it has also run on 1 earlier date with the same answer. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Head of a monastery” answer

ABBOT (5 letters)

Use the reveal tiles above to uncover the solution one letter at a time if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Prefer the full answer straight away? It's ABBOT.

Why the answer is ABBOT

This religious leader oversees the monks 🕊️

What does ABBOT mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of ABBOT is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

When else has “Head of a monastery” appeared?

New York Times Mini reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

• May 24, 2026 (most recent) → ABBOT
• July 31, 2025 → ABBOT

Frequently asked questions