synagogue

noun

syn·​a·​gogue ˈsi-nə-ˌgäg How to pronounce synagogue (audio)
variants or less commonly synagog
1
: a Jewish congregation
2
: the house of worship and communal center of a Jewish congregation
synagogal adjective

Examples of synagogue in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The man who carried out a deadly attack outside a synagogue in Manchester, northern England, had pledged his allegiance to ISIS while carrying it out, police said Wednesday. Catherine Nicholls, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025 On Yom Kippur, a man drove a car into a crowd outside a synagogue in Manchester, England, then got out and stabbed members of the congregation before he was also killed. Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 7 Oct. 2025 Antisemitism exploded around the world, with many innocent Jewish bystanders also becoming casualties in the war of public opinion — one just last week at a synagogue in Manchester, England, on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year. Noa Tishby, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2025 Two dead following attack on UK synagogue Two people have died and three others are in a serious condition after a car ramming and knife attack outside a synagogue in Manchester, UK, on Thursday. Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for synagogue

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

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of synagogue was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Synagogue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/synagogue. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

synagogue

noun
syn·​a·​gogue
variants also synagog
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

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