congregation

American  

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

noun

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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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

And recently Israel agreed to return to her rabbinical roots, taking a one-year position as interim rabbi at Congregation Emeth while the temple’s board searches for a permanent rabbi.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

A total of seven people have now been arrested in connection with the attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on October 2.

From Barron's • Nov. 27, 2025

It is the home of Schumer’s synagogue: Congregation Beth Elohim.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 27, 2025

Family members, congregants from the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation including Rabbi Daniel Walker, and members of the wider Jewish community gathered in Pendlebury, Salford, to pay their respects to Melvin Cravitz, 66.

From BBC • Oct. 5, 2025

Despite their protests, all the other churches did the same with the exception of the Roman Catholics, the Seventh-Day Adventists, and the United Jewish Reform Congregation — who soldiered on without state aid.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

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