synagogue

American  

[sin-uh-gog, -gawg] / ˈsɪn əˌgɒg, -ˌgɔg /

Or synagog

noun

1. a Jewish house of worship, often having facilities for religious instruction.

2. an assembly or congregation of Jews for the purpose of religious worship.

3. the Jewish religion; Judaism.

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synagogue British  

/ ˌsɪnəˈɡɒdʒɪkəl, ˈsɪnəˌɡɒɡ, ˈsɪnəˌɡɒɡəl /

noun

1. 1. a building for Jewish religious services and usually also for religious instruction

   2. ( as modifier )

      synagogue services

2. a congregation of Jews who assemble for worship or religious study

3. the religion of Judaism as organized in such congregations

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synagogue Cultural  

1. In Judaism, a house of worship and learning; also, the congregation that meets there.

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Other Word Forms

• synagogal adjective
• synagogical adjective

Etymology

Origin of synagogue

1125–75; Middle English synagoge < Late Latin synagōga < Greek synagōgḗ assembly, meeting, equivalent to syn- syn- + agōgḗ, noun use of feminine of agōgós (adj.) gathering, derivative of ágein to bring, lead; akin to Latin agere to drive

Explanation

A synagogue is a Jewish house of worship. A synagogue, sometimes called a temple or a shul, is for Jews what a church is for Christians, or a mosque for Muslims, or a temple for Hindus. The word comes from the Greek roots sun "together" and agein "bring" — it's a building where worshipers are brought together.

Example Sentences

At Westminster Magistrates' Court, District Judge Nina Tempia freed the teenager on bail with conditions including to live and sleep at his home address and to not enter any synagogue.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

When she was ordained in 2009 at age 65, she was hired as the rabbi at the same Morgan Hill synagogue and worked there until 2020.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

Earlier this month, Dutch officials said they thought four youths arrested on suspicion of detonating an explosive device outside a Rotterdam synagogue might have been recruited by Iran.

From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026

Synagogue president, Damon Hoff, told the BBC on Tuesday that he was certain there was surveillance of the synagogue before the ambulances in its car park were attacked.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

She tells us about the archaeological findings and how they’re still digging around the synagogue and in the old town, looking for more clues about the Jews who once lived in Toledo.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar

Related Words

• chapel
• house of worship
• mosque
• parish
• shrine
• temple