C1noun formal 5K

Congregation

🇬🇧 UK /["/ˌkɒŋɡrɪˈɡeɪʃn/"]/ 🇺🇸 US /["/ˌkɑːŋɡrɪˈɡeɪʃn/"]/

Meaning of Congregation

a group of people who are gathered together in a church for a religious service, not including the priest and choir

In simple words: a group of people who come together for religious worship

Congregation in a sentence

• The congregation stood to sing the hymn.
• The minister led the congregation in a hymn.
• The priest stood up to address the congregation.
• members of local congregations
• The congregation is/are very diverse in terms of background and ethnicity.
• He had established a small congregation in New York City.
• a lay minister serving a small rural congregation
• people attending the congregation where she and her family worship
• Large congregations of birds filled the evening skies.

How to use Congregation

Used mainly in religious contexts. Not appropriate in casual conversations unless referring specifically to a church or religious group.

Grammar pattern

congregation + verb (e.g., gathers, meets)

Memory hint

Think of 'congregation' as a 'con-gregation' of people gathering together.

Related words

Collocations with Congregation

• large
• small
• local
• address
• lead
• serve
• in a/​the congregation
• a member of a congregation
• large
• small
• local
• address
• lead
• serve
• in a/​the congregation
• a member of a congregation

Synonyms for Congregation

• assembly
• gathering
• flock
• community
• parish

Opposites of Congregation

• dispersal
• separation

Common mistakes with Congregation

• Confused with 'congregate' — 'congregate' refers to the act of coming together, while 'congregation' is the group.
• Using it in non-religious contexts — 'congregation' specifically denotes a religious assembly.

Frequently asked questions about Congregation

What does Congregation mean?

a group of people who come together for religious worship

What is the definition of Congregation?

a group of people who are gathered together in a church for a religious service, not including the priest and choir

How do you use Congregation in a sentence?

The congregation stood to sing the hymn.

Can you give another example of Congregation?

The minister led the congregation in a hymn.

What are synonyms for Congregation?

Common alternatives include assembly, gathering, flock, community, parish.

What is the opposite of Congregation?

Opposite meanings include dispersal, separation.

What words go with Congregation?

It commonly pairs with large, small, local, address, lead, serve, in a/​the congregation, a member of a congregation, large, small, local, address, lead, serve, in a/​the congregation, a member of a congregation.

What are common mistakes when using Congregation?

Confused with 'congregate' — 'congregate' refers to the act of coming together, while 'congregation' is the group. Using it in non-religious contexts — 'congregation' specifically denotes a religious assembly.

How do you pronounce Congregation?

US: /["/ˌkɑːŋɡrɪˈɡeɪʃn/"]/, UK: /["/ˌkɒŋɡrɪˈɡeɪʃn/"]/. Listen to the audio above to hear native pronunciation.

Is Congregation formal or informal?

"Congregation" is formal, so it fits professional, business, or academic conversations.

When should I use Congregation?

Used mainly in religious contexts. Not appropriate in casual conversations unless referring specifically to a church or religious group.

What CEFR level is Congregation?

"Congregation" is at C1 level on the CEFR scale.