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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
Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Since then, five mosques have reached out to her, requesting workshops and physical resources to be distributed at their Islamic centers.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
The Islamic House of Wisdom opened their mosque in Dearborn Heights in 1997 when Canfield was mayor.
—Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 16 Oct. 2025
The siege has spread hunger and disease in the city and relentless drone and artillery strikes have hit displacement shelters, mosques, and hospitals and clinics.
—CNN Money, 11 Oct. 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 29 Oct. 2025.
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mosque
noun
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