mosque

noun

ˈmäsk 

: a building used for public worship by Muslims

Did you know?

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Shiites believe the mosque once hosted Muhammad al-Mahdi, the 12th and last Shiite imam, who disappeared in the 9th century and is supposed to one day reappear to bring justice to the world. — Arkansas Online, 7 July 2026

Over the past two days crowds have thronged the central mosque where coffins containing the bodies of Khamenei and several of his family members were placed on display. — Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 6 July 2026

Massive crowds came to visit his casket at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla mosque in Tehran, according to Iranian state media. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 6 July 2026

Yesterday, tens of thousands of men and women gathered at the Grand Mosalla, a vast mosque and prayer complex in Tehran. — Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 6 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

earlier mosquee, from Middle French, from Old Italian moschea, from Old Spanish mezquita, from Arabic masjid temple, from sajada to prostrate oneself, worship

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mosque

• bosque
• kiosk

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Kids Definition

mosque

noun

ˈmäsk 

: a Muslim place of worship