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 ); congregate, -ion

Example Sentences

Meanwhile, outside the congregation, the onslaught of condemnation continued.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

A box of it recently arrived, enough to last several weeks, sent by the Vázquezes and their Lakeland congregation.

From Salon • Mar. 24, 2026

I guess what I’m getting at is: It didn’t feel exalted, but I felt purpose and that it was OK to have some responsibility — like a pastor with a congregation.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

His words echoed those of the Reverend Jane Robertson who, during Lilia's funeral, had told the congregation how the feeling of anger in the town was "real and valid".

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026

Before long, the congregation had grown so large that he moved elsewhere and refurnished the house with rows of wooden pews and a tiled fountain in the place once occupied by the family’s television set.

From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago

Related Words

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