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

Members of pro-Jewish and pro-Israel communities in the U.S. have turned out in droves for the movie, with synagogues in New York, Los Angeles and other big cities convening groups for a communal experience. —Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 27 Mar. 2025

On a frigid winter morning in 2022, a stranger knocked on the door of a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, during Shabbat service. —Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 20 Mar. 2025

Don’t stop believing Faith was a key part of life for both sisters, who enjoyed being active and engaged members of their synagogues. —Ester Bloom, CNBC, 8 Mar. 2025

Built more than 500 years ago by Jews who fled the terrors of the Spanish Inquisition, the synagogue was renovated in the 1960s. —Jane Arraf, NPR, 27 Feb. 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