synagogue
Americannoun
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a Jewish house of worship, often having facilities for religious instruction.
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an assembly or congregation of Jews for the purpose of religious worship.
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the Jewish religion; Judaism.
noun
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a building for Jewish religious services and usually also for religious instruction
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( as modifier )
synagogue services
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a congregation of Jews who assemble for worship or religious study
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the religion of Judaism as organized in such congregations
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of synagogue
1125–75; Middle English synagoge < Late Latin synagōga < Greek synagōgḗ assembly, meeting, equivalent to syn- syn- + agōgḗ, noun use of feminine of agōgós (adj.) gathering, derivative of ágein to bring, lead; akin to Latin agere to drive
Explanation
A synagogue is a Jewish house of worship. A synagogue, sometimes called a temple or a shul, is for Jews what a church is for Christians, or a mosque for Muslims, or a temple for Hindus. The word comes from the Greek roots sun "together" and agein "bring" — it's a building where worshipers are brought together.
Vocabulary lists containing synagogue
It's Lit: Hanukkah Words
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Maus I: My Father Bleeds History
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World Religions
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He stands up in the synagogue in Nazareth and proclaims release for the captive, sight for the blind, freedom for the oppressed.
From Salon • Jun. 5, 2026
I do advise couples to have some — at the very least — preliminary discussions about finances before taking their romance to the wedding chapel, synagogue or registry office.
From MarketWatch • May 26, 2026
When Steven Lewis volunteered to co-chair a renovation committee in 2022 for his Pacific Palisades synagogue, he had no idea that the project would become his emotional anchor when his home burned three years later.
From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026
The incident caused about £1m of damage to the ambulances and the medical equipment they contained, with nearby flats and a synagogue also affected.
From BBC • May 8, 2026
“But, Link—this is just not practical. There’s no synagogue in Chokecherry.”
From "Linked" by Gordon Korman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
