Synonyms of church

church

noun

ˈchərch 

1

as in temple

a building for public worship and especially Christian worship

a city that is noted for its many historic churches

Synonyms & Similar Words

• temple
• chapel
• cathedral
• tabernacle
• abbey
• kirk
• mission
• shrine
• synagogue
• mosque
• sanctuary
• minster
• pagoda
• oratory
• meetinghouse
• bethel
• shul

2

as in congregation

a body of persons gathered for religious worship

spoke to the whole church at once

Synonyms & Similar Words

• congregation
• assembly
• parish
• flock
• communion
• denomination
• confession
• laity
• sect
• fold

3

as in clergy

the group ordained to perform clerical functions in the Christian church

a time when few young men seem to want to join the church

Synonyms & Similar Words

• clergy
• ministry
• episcopate
• spirituality
• priesthood
• hierarchy
• cloth
• presbytery
• first estate
• spiritualty
• diaconate
• clerkship
• monkhood

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• laity

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of church

Until a 1917 church law was revised in 1983, those who died by suicide were denied Catholic burials on consecrated grounds. — Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026

The reconstruction of one of the nation's oldest Black churches, where congregants gathered in secret before building a meeting house in Virginia, was celebrated Friday. — ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026

Several churches sustained damage to their domes, while a hotel in Coclé and fire stations in Los Santos were also affected. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026

But in recent years, the museum has resuscitated the church’s traditions, starting with Friday’s celebration of the building’s 250th anniversary. — Nancy Jiang, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026