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

The synagogue enlisted other Jewish congregations in Maine, which will also use the mikvah, to help pay for its ongoing maintenance. —Jenna Russell Tristan Spinski, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024

In 1977, Murray took over the historic First AME church, the first Black congregation in Los Angeles. —Gayle Pollard-Terry, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024

In 2008, Church of the Messiah, an Episcopal congregation, started its Silence the Violence campaign to remember victims of gun violence after the deaths of a several young people, said Pastor Barry Randolph. —Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 31 Mar. 2024

This liturgy, in which the priest and congregation face east together, was celebrated by Roman Catholics until the Mass of Paul VI was introduced in 1969 and the Traditional Latin Mass was greatly restricted. —Patrick Neas, Kansas City Star, 29 Mar. 2024

The start of Ramadan, Islam’s annual month of fasting from sunrise to sunset, with a nightly meal followed by special prayers, started March 10 or 11, depending on the congregation. —Ethan Baron, The Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2024

The congregation, in hats and finery, make room for me on their pews. —Catherine Fairweather, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Mar. 2024

Mullins has referenced antisemitic conspiracy theories in her sermons at Calvary Church and told her congregation not to read or watch secular news. —Erin Glynn, The Enquirer, 20 Mar. 2024

Beyond that, the move reflects what is happening to scores of houses of worship nationwide facing existential threats such as declining membership, aging congregations and an unwinnable financial situation. —Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 19 Mar. 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