synagogue

noun

syn·​a·​gogue ˈsi-nə-ˌgäg How to pronounce synagogue (audio)
variants or less commonly synagog
Synonyms of synagoguenext
1
: a Jewish congregation
2
: the house of worship and communal center of a Jewish congregation
synagogal
ˌsi-nə-ˈgä-gəl How to pronounce synagogue (audio)
adjective

Examples of synagogue in a Sentence

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 first to testify was Eric Olshan, the former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania who prosecuted the Tree of Life synagogue shooter. — Sara Colb, Boston Herald, 16 Apr. 2025 The coalition includes synagogues in places like West Newton, Mass., San Francisco and the Upper West Side of New York, along with J Street, a pro-Israel advocacy group. — Anemona Hartocollis, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025 The training the rabbi credits with saving his Texas synagogue in 2022 came from a broader community initiative whose federal funding is in limbo. — Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 20 Mar. 2025 Last week, Jewish Syrians returned to their Damascus neighborhood and held public prayers in a synagogue for the first time in decades. — Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for synagogue

Word History

Etymology

Middle English synagoge, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin synagoga, from Greek synagōgē assembly, synagogue, from synagein to bring together, from syn- + agein to lead — more at agent

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of synagogue was in the 13th century

Rhymes for synagogue

See All Rhymes for synagogue

Browse Nearby Words

synaesthesis
synagogue
synaloepha
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Synagogue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/synagogue. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

synagogue

noun
syn·​a·​gogue
variants also synagog
ˈsin-ə-ˌgäg How to pronounce synagogue (audio)
1
: a Jewish congregation
2
: the house of worship of a Jewish congregation
Etymology

Middle English synagoge "a Jewish congregation," from early French synagoge (same meaning), from Latin synagoga (same meaning), from Greek synagōgē "synagogue, assembly," from synagein "to bring together," from syn- "together with" and agein "to lead" — related to synonymous

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