congregation

noun

con·gre·ga·tion ˌkäŋ-gri-ˈgā-shən

Synonyms of congregation next

: an assembly of persons : gathering

especially : an assembly of persons met for worship and religious instruction

: a religious community: such as

(1)

: an organized body of believers in a particular locality

The pastor delivered a lengthy sermon to the congregation.

(2)

: a Roman Catholic religious institute with only simple vows

a congregation of nuns

(3)

: a group of monasteries forming an independent subdivision of an order

: the act or an instance of congregating or bringing together : the state of being congregated

: a body of cardinals and officials forming an administrative division of the papal curia

Did you know?

The verb congregate may be used for spontaneous gatherings. A crowd quickly congregates at the scene of an accident, for example, just as cows, sheep, or horses tend to congregate during a storm. And under military rule, citizens are often forbidden to congregate on street corners or anywhere else. But a congregation is generally a group that has gathered for a formal purpose, usually in church. The Congregational Church was originally the church of the Puritan settlers, in which each congregation governed its own church independent of any higher authority.

Examples of congregation in a Sentence

The priest addressed the congregation. She is a member of a small congregation.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The congregation, which is keeping Wash Park in its name for now, works with nonprofits around town. —

Matthew Geiger, The Denver Post, 15 Feb. 2025 Lovie Smith and Ben Johnson were in the congregation at St. Emily’s Church for the private funeral mass the next day. —

Dan Pompei, The Athletic, 14 Feb. 2025 The church will also be hosting a program on the bus for middle and high school students in the congregation on Sunday. —

Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025 Multiple religious groups have sued the Trump administration over the policy change, including Quakers, Jewish congregations and Mennonites. —

Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for congregation