synagogue

noun

syn·​a·​gogue ˈsi-nə-ˌgäg 

variants or less commonly synagog

1

: a Jewish congregation

2

: the house of worship and communal center of a Jewish congregation

synagogal

ˌsi-nə-ˈgä-gəl 

adjective

Examples of synagogue in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Before that, 11 Jewish people died when a similarly motivated gunman started shooting inside a Pittsburgh synagogue. —Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026

The Pasadena Temple community is bigger than ever, a year after the Eaton fire took its synagogue. —James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026

Some have praised the government for investing in synagogue restoration, Holocaust memorials and Jewish cultural life, as well as for maintaining close diplomatic ties with Israel. —Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026

The newsroom won a Pulitzer Prize in 2019 for breaking news reporting for its coverage of the deadly 2018 Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Squirrel Hill, Pa. —David Matthews, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English synagoge, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin synagoga, from Greek synagōgē assembly, synagogue, from synagein to bring together, from syn- + agein to lead — more at agent

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for synagogue

• analog
• analogue
• catalogue
• decalogue
• demagogue
• dialogue
• epilogue
• homologue
• monologue
• pedagogue
• tagalog
• travelogue

Kids Definition

synagogue

noun

syn·​a·​gogue

variants also synagog

ˈsin-ə-ˌgäg 

1

: a Jewish congregation

2

: the house of worship of a Jewish congregation

Etymology

Middle English synagoge "a Jewish congregation," from early French synagoge (same meaning), from Latin synagoga (same meaning), from Greek synagōgē "synagogue, assembly," from synagein "to bring together," from syn- "together with" and agein "to lead" — related to synonymous