congregation

noun

con·​gre·​ga·​tion ˌkäŋ-gri-ˈgā-shən 

1

a

: an assembly of persons : gathering

especially : an assembly of persons met for worship and religious instruction

b

: a religious community: such as

(1)

: an organized body of believers in a particular locality

The pastor delivered a lengthy sermon to the congregation.

(2)

: a Roman Catholic religious institute with only simple vows

a congregation of nuns

(3)

: a group of monasteries forming an independent subdivision of an order

2

: the act or an instance of congregating or bringing together : the state of being congregated

3

: a body of cardinals and officials forming an administrative division of the papal curia

Did you know?

The verb congregate may be used for spontaneous gatherings. A crowd quickly congregates at the scene of an accident, for example, just as cows, sheep, or horses tend to congregate during a storm. And under military rule, citizens are often forbidden to congregate on street corners or anywhere else. But a congregation is generally a group that has gathered for a formal purpose, usually in church. The Congregational Church was originally the church of the Puritan settlers, in which each congregation governed its own church independent of any higher authority.

Synonyms

• assembly
• church

Examples of congregation in a Sentence

The priest addressed the congregation.

She is a member of a small congregation.

Recent Examples on the Web

About 200 families representing more than 50 local congregations enroll their children at the school. —David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 17 Dec. 2024

This partnership is made convenient by differing worship schedules; the Adventist congregation gathers on Saturdays and the First Reformed on Sundays. —Mark Kellar, New York Daily News, 15 Dec. 2024

At some point in the past 30 years or so, Zion began recruiting singers from other congregations to keep the chorus strong. —Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 4 Dec. 2024

After a century in Newport, though, the congregation had grown large enough to warrant a synagogue. —Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see congregate entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

congregation

noun

con·​gre·​ga·​tion ˌkäŋ-gri-ˈgā-shən 

1

: a gathering or collection of persons or things

2

a

: an assembly of persons gathered especially for religious worship

b

: the members of a church or synagogue