synagogue

noun

syn·​a·​gogue ˈsi-nə-ˌgäg 

variants or less commonly synagog

1

: a Jewish congregation

2

: the house of worship and communal center of a Jewish congregation

synagogal

ˌsi-nə-ˈgä-gəl 

adjective

Examples of synagogue in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Australia has seen an escalating series of attacks on synagogues, buildings and cars since the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023, raising fear among Australia’s nearly 115,000 Jewish people. —Reuters, NBC News, 13 Feb. 2025

The tsunami of executive orders has left churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques working to understand what that means for their day-to-day operations and worship activities. —Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 10 Feb. 2025

In supporting a network of synagogues, OU runs the largest kosher certification program in the United States. —Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Jan. 2025

The shooter in the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre in 2018 seemed to have been inspired by the conspiracy theory, and targeted the congregation for its support of a pro-immigrant Shabbat. —Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English synagoge, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin synagoga, from Greek synagōgē assembly, synagogue, from synagein to bring together, from syn- + agein to lead — more at agent

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for synagogue

• analog
• analogue
• catalogue
• decalogue
• demagogue
• dialogue
• epilogue
• homologue
• monologue
• pedagogue
• tagalog
• travelogue

Kids Definition

synagogue

noun

syn·​a·​gogue

variants also synagog

ˈsin-ə-ˌgäg 

1

: a Jewish congregation

2

: the house of worship of a Jewish congregation

Etymology

Middle English synagoge "a Jewish congregation," from early French synagoge (same meaning), from Latin synagoga (same meaning), from Greek synagōgē "synagogue, assembly," from synagein "to bring together," from syn- "together with" and agein "to lead" — related to synonymous