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

• 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

Cianfrance said the congregation in the movie is made up of local actors and folks familiar with the Roofman story. —Zach Dennis, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025

Their good cop-bad cop ploy doesn’t seem to be particularly convincing or even fear-inspiring to the suspects of the congregation. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025

Newly shipped off to a small congregation in Chimney Rock, New York, Jud has spent the past nine months trying to navigate his way through some nutty church politics. —Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025

Wicks has assembled quite a loyal congregation around him, starting with the ultra-loyal Martha Delacroix (Glenn Close), who has a strange thing going on with the strong, silent groundskeeper Samson (Thomas Haden Church). —Damon Wise, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see congregate entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for congregation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

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