congregation

[ kong-gri-gey-shuhn ]

/ ˌkɒŋ grɪˈgeɪ ʃən /

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See synonyms for congregation on Thesaurus.com

noun

an assembly of persons brought together for common religious worship.

the act of congregating or the state of being congregated.

a gathered or assembled body; assemblage.

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

the people of Israel. Exodus 12:3,6; Leviticus 4:13.

New Testament. the Christian church in general.

Roman Catholic Church.

a committee of cardinals or other ecclesiastics.
a community of men or women, either with or without vows, observing a common rule.

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

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

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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

Words nearby congregation

congratulations, congratulatory, congregant, congregate, congregate housing, congregation, congregational, Congregational Church, congregationalism, Congregationalists, congress

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use congregation in a sentence

Adults baptized in the Holy Spirit have their faith reborn and strengthened by members of the congregation laying their hands on them.
What Is Charismatic Catholicism?|LGBTQ-Editor|September 29, 2020|No Straight News
As most don’t regularly gather like a church congregation, religiously unaffiliated Americans can be difficult to reach.
More And More Americans Aren’t Religious. Why Are Democrats Ignoring These Voters?|Daniel Cox|September 17, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Many of them are too busy helping their congregations deal with the direct impact of the pandemic to spend much time countering conspiracy theories.
Evangelicals are looking for answers online. They’re finding QAnon instead.|Abby Ohlheiser|August 26, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Suddenly he understood that his efforts to protect his congregation from covid-19 had contributed to a different sort of infection.
Evangelicals are looking for answers online. They’re finding QAnon instead.|Abby Ohlheiser|August 26, 2020|MIT Technology Review

Art is all about congregation, and it can have supportive factors online.
India’s cultural institutions are fighting to keep the arts alive during a pandemic|Manavi Kapur|July 22, 2020|Quartz
The congregation was warm, friendly, and welcoming—traits, he says, he later came to believe they used to coax members in.
Beaten By His Church for Being Gay|Justin Jones|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Looking at the all-white congregation, I could tell that none of the members lived in the projects.
Bam! Pow! Bling! Hip-Hop's History Gets the Graphic Novel Treatment|Daniel Genis|August 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One woman, BB, is a former pastor who was outed to her congregation before she could even tell her loved ones.
Mississippi Is Hell for These Lesbians|Emily Shire|August 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Members of the congregation will join in hymns during the performance.
The First Americans to Observe the 4th Were Moravian Pacifists|Linda C. Brinson|July 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I asked a question once, from the top lay-member of our congregation in Greenhaven.
A Jewish Ex-Con Recalls Keeping Kosher with the Faithful in Prison|Daniel Genis|May 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She and her husband were more than a little proud of having so well known a man in their congregation.
Uncanny Tales|Various
Another such case is found in the account of the league between Joshua and the princes of the congregation, and the Gibeonites.
The Ordinance of Covenanting|John Cunningham
The congregation, forgetting the sacredness of the place, were in a broad grin, and the parson looked daggers.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
The counters and sticks seemed to exercise great influence over the congregation, for it was only round them that they gathered.
A Woman's Journey Round the World|Ida Pfeiffer
If Jason had married Selina without opposition, his congregation would have been enraged.
Scattergood Baines|Clarence Budington Kelland

British Dictionary definitions for congregation

congregation

/ (ˌkɒŋɡrɪˈɡeɪʃən) /

noun

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

the act of congregating or collecting together

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

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

RC Church

a society of persons who follow a common rule of life but who are bound only by simple vows
Also called: dicastery an administrative subdivision of the papal curia
an administrative committee of bishops for arranging the business of a general council

mainly British an assembly of senior members of a university

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

congregation

Origin of congregation

Words nearby congregation

Words related to congregation

How to use congregation in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for congregation