assembly

noun

as·​sem·​bly ə-ˈsem-blē 

plural assemblies

1

: a company of persons gathered for deliberation and legislation, worship, or entertainment

an assembly of religious leaders

2

Assembly : a legislative body

specifically : the lower house of a legislature

3

: a meeting of a student body and usually faculty for administrative, educational, or recreational purposes

A school assembly was held in the auditorium.

4

a

: assemblage sense 1

an assembly of well-wishers

b

: assemblage sense 2

a place of public assembly

5

: a signal for troops to assemble or fall in

6

a

: the fitting together of manufactured parts into a complete machine, structure, or unit of a machine

the assembly of an automobile

b

: a collection of parts so assembled

7

: the translation of assembly language to machine language by an assembler

Synonyms of assembly

• assemblage
• conference
• meeting
• gathering
• congregation
• panel
• audience

Examples of assembly in a Sentence

The parts are made in this factory and then shipped to another country for assembly.

the New York State Assembly

an assembly of armed men

School assemblies were usually held in the cafeteria.

Recent Examples on the Web

In a world first, the US Department of Defense (aka the Department of War) airlifted a complete 5-MW nuclear reactor using a C-17 Globemaster III transport from March Air Reserve Base, California to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, for assembly and operation. —David Szondy february 21, New Atlas, 21 Feb. 2026

Meanwhile, on the steps of the assembly building, protesters and lawmakers were facing off against troops who had blocked the entrance. —Helen Regan, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026

Those copies were then distributed to various assemblies, conventions, and continental troops on July 5, proclaiming the colonies’ independence to the world. —Brian Rosenzweig, IndyStar, 20 Feb. 2026

The assembly process can take another 30 minutes or more. —Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 20 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English asemble, assemble "gathering, meeting, group gathered for a purpose, as a deliberative body," borrowed from Anglo-French asemblee, assemblee, noun derivative from feminine past participle of asembler, assembler "to come together, assemble"

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing assembly

• assembly language
• assembly line
• general assembly
• house of assembly
• legislative assembly
• pre-assembly
• self-assembly

Rhymes for assembly

• disassembly
• reassembly
• subassembly

Kids Definition

assembly

noun

as·​sem·​bly ə-ˈsem-blē 

plural assemblies

1

: a body of persons gathered together (as to make laws or for discussion, worship, or entertainment)

2

capitalized : a governing body

especially : the lower house of a legislature

3

: the act of gathering together or state of being assembled

4

: a signal for troops to assemble

5

: a collection of parts that go to make up a complete machine, structure, or unit of a machine

6

: the translation of assembly language to machine language by an assembler

7

: a meeting of a student body and usually teachers for educational or recreational purposes

Legal Definition

assembly

noun

as·​sem·​bly

plural assemblies

1

a

: a company of persons collected together in one place usually for some common purpose

b

capitalized : a legislative body especially that makes up the lower house of a legislature see also general assembly, legislative assembly

2

: the act of coming together : the condition of being assembled see also unlawful assembly