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synagogue

synagogue

100 3.8
A building where Jewish people meet to pray and learn
  • noun
  • /ˈsɪnəˌɡɔɡ/
translation icon : sinagoga
  • The synagogue was beautifully decorated for the holiday celebrations.
  • attend the synagogue
  • Jewish synagogues
  • menorah in the synagogue

The origin of the mosque, the church and the synagogue is later, in my view.

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Examples

  • Our parents go to synagogue together.

  • Many of them do not go to a neighborhood synagogue but have small synagogues in their homes.

    Academic text (1991)
  • I went to Sunday school at our synagogue every week.

  • We did love the music at that East Side Synagogue.

  • Your uncle no longer attends synagogue.

  • About fifteen people are in the synagogue, which, because of its tininess, feels almost full.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • And one thing that fascinated me about him is he is an atheist, but he goes to synagogue every weekend.

  • In 1763, they had established a synagogue that closed in 1822 after the Jews moved away.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Our family home on Tamarack Street was better known as Herring Row, just two blocks from the synagogue.

  • I dreamed of a synagogue like a musical instrument, a harp sounding in the air.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

temple
vssynagogue
234 2.8

A building where Jewish people meet to pray and take part in religious events

focuses more on worship together with explicit instruction
place of worship
vssynagogue
14 2.9

A place where people meet to pray or have religious services

is limited to one community's place for worship and teaching
house of worship
vssynagogue
11 2.9

A building where people gather for prayer or religious services

is specific to a single religious community and includes instruction
house of God
vssynagogue
9 3.1

A building where people gather to pray, like a church

is specific to the Jewish faith and its communal functions
shul
vssynagogue
  • Jargon
5 9.4

A building where Jewish people meet to pray and learn

is the formal label for the same Jewish worship and teaching place
house of prayer
vssynagogue
1 3.8

A building where people meet to pray together

adds a clear role for teaching and religious instruction as well

How Sacred

cathedral
6.6
temple
234 2.8
synagogue
100 3.8
chapel
114 2.8
meeting place
17 1.3

Surface Forms

synagogue singular
synagogues plural

Etymology

The word synagogue comes from Greek parts syn- ('together') and agoge ('bringing' or 'assembly'), and the syn- is the same 'together' you see in synchronize, so the word originally meant a place for bringing people together. That's why a synagogue is a building where Jewish people gather to pray and learn.