Definition of: congregation

(kong′grə·gā′shən) noun
1. The act of congregating; the collecting into one mass, body, or assembly; aggregation.
2. An assemblage of people or of things.
3. A group of people met together for worship; also, the body of persons who worship in a local church; a parish.
4. In the Old Testament, the whole body of Israel.
5. Eccl. A religious community or order bound by a common rule.
6. Any of several committees of cardinals who administer the departments of the papal government and assist the Pope.
7. In colonial New England, a town or settlement, considered as a religious community. See synonyms under ASSEMBLY, COMPANY.
—con′gre·ga′tion·al adjective