Meaning & use
synod
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Meanings
nouncountablereligion
An official meeting of church leaders, and sometimes lay members, held to discuss and decide questions of church teaching or business.
Grammar: Countable; capitalized when part of a name: the General Synod.
Patterns
- a synod of something
- the synod voted
The synod voted to change how bishops are chosen.
Delegates from every diocese attended the annual synod.
The synod met for three days to debate the new prayer book.
nouncountablereligionspecialist
In some Presbyterian churches, a regional body of ministers and elders that oversees several local church groups.
Grammar: Usage differs between denominations.
Patterns
- the synod of something
The local presbyteries report to the synod each autumn.
She was elected to represent her district at the synod.
The synod oversees dozens of congregations in the region.
Word forms
| plural | synods |
|---|
Common combinations
- General Synod
- The General Synod meets in York twice a year.
- hold a synod
- The church decided to hold a synod in the spring.
- synod of bishops
- The synod of bishops discussed the role of families.
- diocesan synod
- A diocesan synod approved the budget.
- synod voted
- The synod voted by a large majority.
- Holy Synod
- The Holy Synod governs the church in Russia.
Synonyms and how they differ
- council
- Council is a general word for any governing body, while synod belongs specifically to churches.
- assembly
- Assembly means any gathering of people for a shared purpose, with no reference to church authority.
- convocation
- Convocation is a formal assembly and, in some churches, a body of clergy, so it overlaps closely with synod.
Word family
- synodal adjective
- relating to a synod
- synodical adjective
- relating to or decided by a synod
- synodality noun
- the practice of church members journeying and deciding together
Commonly confused: synod or synonym?
synod vs synonym
A synonym is a word with the same meaning as another. A synod is a church meeting. They share the first syllable but are unrelated.
Practice
The bishops and delegates met for a ___ to decide on the new church rules.
Choose one answer.
A synod is an official meeting of church leaders. Synonym, symbol and sonnet sound somewhat similar but have unrelated meanings.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “synod”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.