belfry

IPA/ˈbelfri/
KK[bˈɛlfri]IPA/ˈbelfri/

belfry — noun

  • belfrysingular
  • belfriesplural

1. a high section of a church, usually built as a tower, that contains bells which

1.nounB2
Definition

a high section of a church, usually built as a tower, that contains bells which are rung to call people to religious services

Example

The old stone belfry could be seen from every corner of the village.

article + adjective + belfry as subject

Workers spent six months repairing the wooden stairs inside the belfry.

inside the belfry (location preposition)

Common collocations
  • belfry tower
  • church belfry
  • stone belfry
  • belfry steps
  • belfry window
Synonyms
  • bell tower

    the general term for any tower that holds bells; belfry is more specific to church towers

  • campanile

    a free-standing bell tower, often found in Italy; a belfry is attached to a church

  • steeple

    the tall spire on top of a church tower; the bells usually hang below the steeple in the belfry

Grammar Patterns

the + belfry

a + belfry

Usage Note

Typically used with the definite article when referring to a specific church's tower: 'the belfry of St. Mary's'. Free-standing bell towers are usually called bell towers or campaniles, not belfries.

Common Mistakes

They built a belfry in the middle of the park.
They built a bell tower in the middle of the park.
A belfry is part of a church, not an independent structure in a public space.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Belfry, bell tower, campanile, and steeple all relate to tall church structures but differ in scope and use. Bell tower is the broadest term — it covers any tower designed to hold bells, whether attached to a church or free-standing. Belfry is more specific: it refers to the part of a church tower (or the tower itself) where the bells hang, but it is almost always attached to a church building. Campanile is an Italian borrowing for a free-standing bell tower, often seen in Italian town squares — think of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Steeple is different: it is the pointed spire on top of a church tower, not the bell chamber itself. For example, 'The church steeple was struck by lightning' refers to the spire, while 'The belfry was full of swallows' refers to the bell chamber below it.

belfry ↗bell tower ↗campanile ↗steeple ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • belfry tower
  • belfry window
  • belfry door
  • belfry steps

Phrases

  • bats in the belfry

Prepositions

  • in the belfry
  • to the belfry
  • from the belfry
  • up to the belfry

Etymology

Old FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Belfry entered English from the Old French berfroi, which originally meant a movable siege tower used in medieval warfare, not a church bell tower. Over time, the word was reinterpreted as if it came from 'bell' + 'froi' (tower), and its meaning shifted from a war tower to a tower for church bells. The modern spelling was influenced by the word 'bell' itself.

First known use

15th century

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1