synagogue
Americannoun
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a Jewish house of worship, often having facilities for religious instruction.
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an assembly or congregation of Jews for the purpose of religious worship.
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the Jewish religion; Judaism.
noun
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a building for Jewish religious services and usually also for religious instruction
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( as modifier )
synagogue services
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a congregation of Jews who assemble for worship or religious study
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the religion of Judaism as organized in such congregations
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of synagogue
1125–75; Middle English synagoge < Late Latin synagōga < Greek synagōgḗ assembly, meeting, equivalent to syn- syn- + agōgḗ, noun use of feminine of agōgós (adj.) gathering, derivative of ágein to bring, lead; akin to Latin agere to drive
Explanation
A synagogue is a Jewish house of worship. A synagogue, sometimes called a temple or a shul, is for Jews what a church is for Christians, or a mosque for Muslims, or a temple for Hindus. The word comes from the Greek roots sun "together" and agein "bring" — it's a building where worshipers are brought together.
Vocabulary lists containing synagogue
It's Lit: Hanukkah Words
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Maus I: My Father Bleeds History
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World Religions
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The New York synagogue siege might have been worse if not for a new city law letting police set up barricades around synagogues and other Jewish sites.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026
The former synagogue was due to be sold at auction earlier this year, with a separate bid by a Muslim group to buy the building and convert it into a mosque and community centre.
From BBC • May 5, 2026
But these concerns won't stop Wagner from going to synagogue - though he knows the experience bears little in common with that at other religions' places of worship.
From BBC • May 2, 2026
Although he's covering up his kippah in public, Derek says he will attend synagogue as usual - but that it will feel especially intense.
From BBC • May 2, 2026
The congregants rose and came toward the rear of the synagogue.
From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
