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Mosques were known to the English-speaking world long before we called them mosques. In the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries, we used many different variations of the word—moseak, muskey, moschy, mos’keh, among others—until we finally hit on mosquee, emulating Middle French. The Middle French word had come by way of Italian and Old Spanish from the Arabic word for "temple," which is masjid. In the early 1700s, we settled on the present spelling, and mosque thus joined other English words related to Muslim worship: mihrab, for the special niche in a mosque that points towards Mecca; minaret, for the tall slender tower of a mosque; and muezzin, for the crier who, standing in the minaret, calls the hour of daily prayers.
Examples of mosque in a Sentence
Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 30 Aug. 2025
The Saudis assigned Thumairy to serve as imam of a Los Angeles mosque in 1998.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2025
Martinez was one of several speakers at a prayer vigil, held at Masjid Al-Ansar, a mosque in Liberty City, who highlighted the mental and physical struggle of finding and keeping affordable housing in Miami-Dade.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2025
The California teenager in the case involving hundreds of swatting calls – including to a Florida mosque – was sentenced this year to four years in prison, federal prosecutors said.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mosque
Cite this Entry
“Mosque.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mosque. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.
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mosque
noun
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