noun
Common
congregation
kongg-rih-GAY-shuhn
Congregation (noun) means the group of people gathered for worship at a church, synagogue, mosque, or other place of worship. Example: “The vicar welcomed every member of the congregation at the door after the service.”
noun
1
The group of people gathered for worship at a church, synagogue, mosque, or other place of worship.
"The vicar welcomed every member of the congregation at the door after the service."
"A small congregation meets in the old chapel each Sunday morning."
"The congregation stood to sing the closing hymn."
2
Any large gathering of people or things.
"A congregation of seagulls gathered around the chip shop bins."
"A large congregation of fans gathered at the station to welcome the team."
"A congregation of reporters waited outside the courtroom."
How to use congregation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe people who gather to worship together — or, more loosely, any crowd.
Common pairings
the congregation of a church
address the congregation
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Word forms
- Plural
- congregations
Fill the gap
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The vicar welcomed every member of the _____ at the door after the service.
Etymology
From Latin congregatio, from congregare ("to gather into a flock"); adopted by 16th-century Bible translator William Tyndale to render the Greek word for a "gathering of the faithful".
Class of 1500
congregation joined the language around 1500.
See the full Class of 1500 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for congregation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for congregation →
Frequently asked questions
What does “congregation” mean?
The word “congregation” means the group of people gathered for worship at a church, synagogue, mosque, or other place of worship. In plain terms, the people who gather to worship together — or, more loosely, any crowd.
How do you pronounce “congregation”?
“Congregation” is pronounced kongg-rih-GAY-shuhn (/ˌkɑŋɡɹəˈɡeɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “congregation” in a sentence?
Here is “congregation” used in a sentence: “The congregation stood to sing the closing hymn.”
What part of speech is “congregation”?
“Congregation” is a noun.
Where does the word “congregation” come from?
The word “congregation” dates back to around 1500 and comes from Latin. From Latin congregatio, from congregare ("to gather into a flock"); adopted by 16th-century Bible translator William Tyndale to render the Greek word for a "gathering of the faithful".
Is “congregation” a common word?
“Congregation” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “congregation” have?
“Congregation” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the group of people gathered for worship at a church, synagogue, mosque, or other place of worship.
What is the difference between congregation and community?
A congregation specifically refers to the group of people gathered for worship at a church, synagogue, mosque, or other place of worship, while community is a broader term for any group sharing a location, interest, or identity. Every congregation is a kind of community, but not every community is a congregation.
Can congregation be used outside of a religious context?
Yes, congregation can also describe any large gathering of people or things, not only a group assembled for worship. This broader sense is less common but still standard usage.
Is congregation the same as a church denomination?
No, a congregation is the specific group of worshippers who gather at a particular place of worship, while a denomination is a larger organised branch of a religion that may include many separate congregations. A single denomination can encompass thousands of individual congregations.
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