# synod

/ˈsɪnəd/ (US) · /sˈɪnɒd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/synod
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. church council

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a formal meeting of church leaders to discuss and decide on religious matters.

For teachers: an ecclesiastical council or assembly of delegates convened to consult on church doctrine, administration, or law.

- The bishops gathered for a synod to discuss changes to the church rules.
- The national synod convened to deliberate on the proposed amendments to the liturgy, drawing representatives from every diocese in the country.

Usage: Often used with 'the' as a proper noun when referring to a specific historical or governing body.

### 2. church administrative division

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

a specific group or district of churches within a larger religious organization.

For teachers: a regional or administrative division of a denomination, particularly within Lutheran or Presbyterian traditions.

- Our local church belongs to the regional synod of the Midwest.
- The synod voted to allocate additional funding to urban ministries, reflecting the administrative priorities of the district's leadership.

### 3. astronomical conjunction

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Archaic

a rare meeting or coming together of two or more planets or stars in the sky.

For teachers: a conjunction or alignment of two or more celestial bodies.

- Ancient astronomers recorded the rare synod of Jupiter and Saturn.
- The rare planetary synod provided a unique opportunity for researchers to calibrate their instruments against multiple bright sources simultaneously.

Teaching tip: This sense is largely obsolete in modern observational astronomy, which prefers the term 'conjunction'.

## Examples

- The local synod met to discuss the new church rules.
- The regional synod voted to allow more community involvement in the selection of new parish priests.
- Historians often point to the decisions made at that specific synod as the turning point that eventually led to a permanent schism within the national church.

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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.