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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
Sophia Tareen, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
The president of Wisconsin's largest mosque was detained by federal immigration agents, drawing accusations Thursday from local officials and religious leaders that the arrest was motivated by his criticism of Israel.
—CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Friends and relatives gathered at the Baitul Jannah Masjid mosque not far from her home, where mourners said their last goodbyes Tuesday.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
Three people were also killed in a strike that damaged a mosque in the northern city of Zanjan.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mosque
Cite this Entry
“Mosque.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mosque. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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mosque
noun
