congregation
noun
[ kɒŋɡrɪˈɡeɪʃ(ə)n ]
• a group of people assembled for religious worship.
• "the singing of psalms by the whole congregation"
Similar:
parishioners,
parish,
churchgoers,
flock,
fold,
faithful,
following,
followers,
adherents,
believers,
loyal members,
fellowship,
communicants,
laity,
brethren,
brothers and sisters,
souls,
• a gathering or collection of people, animals, or things.
• "large congregations of birds may cause public harm"
Similar:
gathering,
assembly,
flock,
swarm,
bevy,
herd,
pack,
group,
body,
crowd,
mass,
multitude,
horde,
host,
mob,
turnout,
throng,
company,
rally,
convocation,
congress,
council,
conclave,
synod,
assemblage,
get-together,
conventicle,
• (in the Roman Catholic Church) a permanent committee of the College of Cardinals.
• "the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith"
• a group of people obeying a common religious rule but under less solemn vows than members of the older religious orders.
• "the sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady"
• a flock of plovers.
• "this is a shorebird beach, with a congregation of plovers inhabiting it"
Origin:
late Middle English (in congregation (sense 2, sense 3, sense 4)): from Latin congregatio(n- ), from congregare ‘collect (into a flock)’ (see congregate).
