congregation

Noun

congregation (countable and uncountable, plural congregations)

1. The act of congregating or collecting together.
2. A gathering of faithful in a temple, church, synagogue, mosque or other place of worship, especially those present at a devotional service or who regularly attend such services, particularly in contrast to the leadership, choir or others.
   • The critically low level of rainfall in the second half of 2020 – approaching 50% year on year for November – led the religious affairs directorate to instruct imams and their congregations to pray for rain last month.2021 January 13, Bethan McKernan, “Turkey drought: Istanbul could run out of water in 45 days”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 27 Aug 2025
   • In Hebrew, bonai shalom means “builders of peace,” and the congregation welcomes both Jews and non-Jews to participate in all aspects of the community.2025 June 4, Cindy Von Quednow, TuAnh Dam, “Their synagogue taught them to build peace. An antisemitic attack is testing their resilience”, in CNN, archived from the original on 22 Jul 2025

   Synonyms:

   flock, fold, laity

3. A Roman Congregation, a main department of the Vatican administration of the Catholic Church.
4. A corporate body whose members gather for worship, or the members of such a body.
5. Any large gathering of people.
   • During the wedding ( usually held on a Saturday ) , you and your committee sit on " facing benches ” before the rest of the congregation ( your guests ) . Everyone worships silently until you two feel that it's time to say your vows .1998, Carley Roney, The Knot's Complete Guide to Weddings in the Real World: The Ultimate Source of Ideas, Advice, and Relief for the Bride and Groom and Those who Love Them, Broadway Books, →ISBN...
6. A flock of birds.
   • Bald eagles gather in significant numbers along the middle Skagit during the winter to feed on migrating salmon. This congregation of eagles is reported to be the largest wintering group on the contiguous West Coast.1977, Classification of Portions of the Skagit River and Selected, United States. Forest Service. Pacific Northwest Region, page 12
   • "Oh! I wasted most of my morning crawling to a murmuration of starlings, which I foolishly mistook for congregation of plover."1893 September 27, The Bazaar, the Exchange and Mart, London, page 800, column 3

   Synonyms:

   flock

7. (collective, noun) A group of alligators or crocodiles.
   • A congregation of crocodiles will communicate with body language and behavior and are also extremely territorial predators.2010, Ann Wertz Garvin, On Maggie's Watch, Penguin Publishing Group
   • a large congregation of crocodiles lazing by the side of a swamp; with their thick, tough skin, coarse and lumpy and always coated in mud, they were the embodiment of hideousness, these creatures as old as time2024, Saneh Sangsuk, The Understory, Deep Vellum Publishing

   Synonyms:

   raft

8. (UK, Oxford University) The main body of university staff, comprising academics, administrative staff, heads of colleges, etc.