C1nounformal5K

Congregation

UK /["/ˌkɒŋɡrɪˈɡeɪʃn/"]/US /["/ˌkɑːŋɡrɪˈɡeɪʃn/"]/

Definition

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

Examples

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.

Usage notes

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.

Collocations

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

assembly
gathering
flock
community
parish

Antonyms

dispersal
separation

Common mistakes

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.