synagogue

American  

[sin-uh-gog, -gawg] / ˈsɪn əˌgɒg, -ˌgɔg /

Or synagog

noun

• synagogues
  plural

1. a Jewish house of worship, often having facilities for religious instruction.

2. an assembly or congregation of Jews for the purpose of religious worship.

3. the Jewish religion; Judaism.

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synagogue British  

/ ˈsɪnəˌɡɒɡ /

noun

1. 1. a building for Jewish religious services and usually also for religious instruction

   2. ( as modifier )

      synagogue services

2. a congregation of Jews who assemble for worship or religious study

3. the religion of Judaism as organized in such congregations

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synagogue Cultural  

1. In Judaism, a house of worship and learning; also, the congregation that meets there.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• synagogal
  adjective
• synagogical
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• synagogues
  plural

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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

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

synagogue synagogues

So had the creation and decoration of Prague’s earliest Jewish synagogue, the Altneuschul, the double-naved Gothic house of worship completed in 1270 that is also the oldest still-active synagogue in Europe.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

Family of synagogue attack victim call for 'day of kindness'

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

In 2015, he demonstrated the successful digital unrolling of a charred scroll recovered from a synagogue that burned around 600 C.E.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026

A memorial service will take place at Heaton Park synagogue later to commemorate the victims and survivors.

From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026

The congregants rose and came toward the rear of the synagogue.

From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok

When New York state enacted buffer-zone protections in May, the coalition that organizes disruptive gatherings outside synagogues and churches published a victory statement.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

“Interestingly, in Iran we’ve always lived in peace with the Muslims,” and Iran’s synagogues don’t require security, as they do in many other countries, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

The Metropolitan Police will receive £86m to recruit about 300 extra officers to help increase police presence in Jewish neighbourhoods, and around synagogues, schools and community centres.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

Other synagogues, churches and mosques are on the path to rebuilding, but they are facing the same hurdles as many of their congregants and members, and then some.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026

Baba was filling Thaya Jaan in on plans for the carnival and how he was inviting local churches, synagogues, temples, and interfaith organizations to attend.

From "Amina's Voice" by Hena Khan

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Related Words

• chapel
• house of worship
• mosque
• parish
• shrine
• temple

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