pew

noun

ˈpyü 

1

: a compartment in the auditorium of a church providing seats for several persons

2

: one of the benches with backs and sometimes doors fixed in rows in a church

Examples of pew in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With Harris sitting in a front pew, Feinstein and Lockyer both demanded that the assailant face the death penalty. —Maria L. La Ganga, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2024

Many of the students stayed in the homes of Black families or slept in pews at Black churches. —Deborah Barfield Berry, USA TODAY, 17 July 2024

Kidd had been a respected member of New York society, with a house at 56 Wall Street and a pew at the nearby Trinity Church. —Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024

Given the mosaic of Christian communities, responses at the pulpit and in the pews varied widely according to location, denomination and demographics. —Holly Bailey, Washington Post, 15 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pewe, from Middle French dialect (Picardy) puie balustrade, from Latin podia, plural of podium parapet, podium, from Greek podion base, diminutive of pod-, pous foot — more at foot

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pew

noun

ˈpyü 

: one of the benches with backs and sometimes doors set in rows in a church