congregation

noun

con·​gre·​ga·​tion ˌkäŋ-gri-ˈgā-shən 

1

a

: an assembly of persons : gathering

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

b

: 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

2

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

3

: 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.

Synonyms

• assembly
• church

Examples of congregation in a Sentence

The priest addressed the congregation.

She is a member of a small congregation.

Recent Examples on the Web

In Los Angeles, Reverend Maria Elena Montalvo of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church said her congregation has provided sanctuary for immigrants, refugees, and asylum-seekers since 2016. —John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025

In retirement, the grandfather of four found joy in taking walks at sunrise around the Rose Bowl, watching his beloved San Francisco 49ers and serving as head deacon of his congregation at Weller Street Baptist Church, his daughter said. —Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2025

Biden spoke to the congregation of Royal Missionary Baptist Church in North Charleston, South Carolina, on Sunday, in a message focused on the Civil Rights movement. —Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 19 Jan. 2025

Lifeline’s pastor, Bishop Charles Dorsey, told me that, according to his best estimate, thirteen households in the congregation had lost their homes, and twenty-seven more were displaced. —Emily Witt, The New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see congregate entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

congregation

noun

con·​gre·​ga·​tion ˌkäŋ-gri-ˈgā-shən 

1

: a gathering or collection of persons or things

2

a

: an assembly of persons gathered especially for religious worship

b

: the members of a church or synagogue