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 of congregation

• 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

During court proceedings, relatives and friends accused Mackenzie of indoctrinating his congregation with doomsday sermons. — Rael Ombuor, Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2026

Hamilton brought a friendly, centrist persona and a knack for fundraising to the race as the founder of the 25,000-member Church of the Resurrection in the Kansas City area, the nation’s largest United Methodist congregation. — John Hanna, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026

Always self-effacing, Rabbi Leigh Lerner was spiritual head of a major Montreal synagogue and then continued with a congregation in Milan, Italy, learning Italian along the way, until his demise recently. — Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026

The center had to get the congregation to agree to sell the property, then demolish and rebuild it nearby. — David Moin, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2026

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