congregational

American  

[kong-gri-gey-shuh-nl] / ˌkɒŋ grɪˈgeɪ ʃə nl /

adjective

1. of or relating to a congregation.

   congregational singing.

2. (initial capital letter) pertaining or adhering to a form of Protestant church government in which each local church acts as an independent, self-governing body, while maintaining fellowship with like congregations.

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congregational British  

/ ˌkɒŋɡrɪˈɡeɪʃənəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to a congregation

2. (usually capital) of, relating to, or denoting the Congregational Church, its members, or its beliefs

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Other Word Forms

• congregationally adverb
• non-Congregational adjective
• uncongregational adjective

Etymology

Origin of congregational

First recorded in 1570–80; congregation + -al ¹

Example Sentences

The month of fasting usually last about 30 days and concludes with the festival of Eid-al-Fitr, which is a time of family celebrations following congregational prayers.

From BBC • Mar. 1, 2025

Concerns for congregational safety were amplified in late August when three young, white men pastors did not recognize visited several Black churches in Buffalo during Sunday worship.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 31, 2023

Authorities have also confined the region’s chief cleric and top separatist leader, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, to his home and restricted large congregational prayers at the region’s main mosque.

From Washington Times • Jul. 27, 2023

He served as the congregational rabbi there for 24 years and remained a member of the congregation until he moved into a senior living residence in Canton in 2017.

From New York Times • Apr. 28, 2023

Living as far as they had from the village, the Worthens had never even bothered to pay pew rent in the village congregational church.

From "Lyddie" by Katherine Paterson