synod

noun

syn·​od ˈsi-nəd 

 also  -ˌnäd

1

: an ecclesiastical governing or advisory council: such as

a

: an assembly of bishops in the Roman Catholic Church

b

: the governing assembly of an Episcopal province

c

: a Presbyterian governing body ranking between the presbytery and the general assembly

d

: a regional or national organization of Lutheran congregations

2

: the ecclesiastical district governed by a synod

synodal

ˈsi-nə-dᵊl

-ˌnä-;

sə-ˈnä-dᵊl 

adjective

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

The pope did meet with the bishops on Thursday, when the conversation didn’t focus on the German synod, Bishop Bätzing said. —Francis X. Rocca, WSJ, 19 Nov. 2022

Will the synod lead to big changes, like women or married priests? —Peter Weber, The Week, 11 Oct. 2022

The proposal garnered the required two-thirds of the synod as a whole, with 159 in favor, 33 against and 4 abstaining. —Francis X. Rocca, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022

Francis named Cardinal Hummes in 2020 to lead the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon region, which is fostered by the debates of the synod. —Mauricio Savarese, BostonGlobe.com, 4 July 2022

Leaders of the synod say that dealing with the crisis requires considering major changes to Catholic life. —Francis X. Rocca, WSJ, 4 Feb. 2022

The synod was scheduled to vote Saturday on another draft statement calling for the institution of formal blessings for unmarried couples, both straight and gay, in the liturgy of the German church. —Francis X. Rocca, WSJ, 4 Feb. 2022

Though the organizations are closely affiliated, a Portland attorney representing the extension fund told The Oregonian/OregonLive last week there is no deal currently for the synod to give up its right of reentry. —oregonlive, 14 Mar. 2022

Synodal Way is headed toward a global synod in Rome next year, where other nations may decide to follow its path. —Paul Elie, The New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2022

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English sinod, from Late Latin synodus, from Late Greek synodos, from Greek, meeting, assembly, from syn- + hodos way, journey

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

synod

noun

syn·​od ˈsin-əd 

1

: a meeting of church leaders

2

: the governing or advisory council of a church

synodal

ˈsin-əd-ᵊl 

adjective

synodical

sə-ˈnäd-i-kəl

adjective