# congregation

/ˌkɑŋɡɹəˈɡeɪʃən/ (US) · /kˌɒŋɡɹɪɡˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/congregation
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. religious gathering

noun · CEFR B2

the group of people who attend a religious service at a place of worship.

For teachers: the body of people assembled for a religious service, often distinguished from the clergy or choir.

- The minister stood at the front of the church and addressed the congregation.
- After the final hymn, the congregation remained seated in silence for a few moments of private reflection before exiting the cathedral.

### 2. a religious group

noun · CEFR B2

a specific group of people who belong to the same local church or religious community.

For teachers: a permanent organized body of believers who constitute a local church or religious community.

- Our congregation is raising money to repair the roof of the community centre.
- The local congregation has grown significantly over the last decade, necessitating the construction of a larger assembly hall.

### 3. general gathering

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a large group of people or animals that have gathered in one place.

For teachers: the act of collecting into a crowd or mass; a large gathering of people or animals.

- The park saw a large congregation of protesters on Saturday morning.
- Biologists observed a massive congregation of eagles near the river, drawn by the unusually high salmon population this season.

### 4. university body

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Formal

the main group of staff and teachers who make decisions at some universities.

For teachers: the formal legislative or assembly body of a university, typically comprising senior academic and administrative staff.

- The new policy was debated during the meeting of the university congregation.
- The Vice-Chancellor presided over the congregation, where the faculty voted on the proposed changes to the degree requirements.

## Examples

- The congregation stood up to sing a hymn together.
- The local congregation raised enough money to repair the roof of the historic chapel after the storm.
- While the architecture of the cathedral was undeniably impressive, the visiting bishop focused his sermon on the spiritual health of the diverse congregation gathered before him.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.