congregation

American  

[kong-gri-gey-shuhn] / ˌkɒŋ grɪˈgeɪ ʃən /

noun

congregations plural

1. an assembly of persons brought together for common religious worship.

2. the act of congregating or the state of being congregated.

3. a gathered or assembled body; assemblage.

4. an organization formed for the purpose of providing for worship of God, for religious education, and for other church activities; a local church society.

5. (in the Bible) the people of Israel.

6. New Testament. the Christian church in general.

7. Roman Catholic Church.

   1. a committee of cardinals or other ecclesiastics.

   2. a community of men or women, either with or without vows, observing a common rule.

8. (at English universities) the general assembly of the doctors, fellows, etc.

9. (in colonial North America) a parish, town, plantation, or other settlement.

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congregation British  

/ ˌkɒŋɡrɪˈɡeɪʃən /

noun

1. a group of persons gathered for worship, prayer, etc, esp in a church or chapel

2. the act of congregating or collecting together

3. a group of people, objects, etc, collected together; assemblage

4. the group of persons habitually attending a given church, chapel, etc

5. RC Church

   1. a society of persons who follow a common rule of life but who are bound only by simple vows

   2. Also called: dicastery.  an administrative subdivision of the papal curia

   3. an administrative committee of bishops for arranging the business of a general council

6. an assembly of senior members of a university

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• congregations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of congregation

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English congregacio(u)n, from Anglo-French or directly from Latin congregātiōn- (stem of congregātiō ); see congregate, -ion

Explanation

Although the word is most usually assigned to the members of a church, any gathering might be called a congregation, including a gathering of animals. Come to think of it, a congregation of church members is often called a "flock." The Latin root of congregation, which is greg, meaning "flock," easily becomes congregare, meaning "to gather together," and finally congregationen, giving the current meaning of “a group.” The meaning took on a religious quality when 16th Century Protestants took it to refer to the church itself, then refining it to mean church members. If you're not a churchgoer, you might still refer to your friends who show up to watch football as a congregation.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

congregation congregations

As a Christian minister of an American Baptist congregation, I’ve spent more than 20 years in a pulpit — long enough to know the difference between protecting a church and conscripting one.

From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2026

St Wilfrid's Church in Melling, near Lancaster, was set to shut as its congregation was unable to raise the £750,000 needed for urgent repairs to the building.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

Adhering to a strict interpretation of Roman Catholic tradition, the society holds masses in Latin celebrated by priests with their backs turned to the congregation.

From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026

It isn’t as simple as going to seminary, getting a degree and receiving a call from a congregation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

A long, solitary wail went up from somebody towards the middle of the congregation.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

He wants to begin “reclaiming” mainline institutions and congregations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

Smoke could be seen billowing from Temple Israel, one of the largest Reform Judaism congregations in the country, after the attack and fire engines were on the scene.

From Barron's ● Mar. 12, 2026

But mirroring a national trend of shrinking religious orders and congregations, the last nuns left in 2022.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 6, 2026

The other signatories were Luis Argüello, president of the Episcopal Conference and leader of the Spanish Catholic Church, and Jesús Díaz Sariego, president of Confer, which represents Catholic congregations and religious orders.

From BBC ● Jan. 8, 2026

Pietism laid great store by helping congregations find God themselves, through personal acquaintance and knowledge of the scriptures, through humility, non-confrontation and piety, through an ethos of hard work, and through education.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Related Words

• audience
• crowd
• flock
• gathering
• parish
• throng