Synod

UK: /ˈsɪnəd/ US: /ˈsɪnəd/ ,(sin′əd)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

syn•od /ˈsɪnəd/   n. [countable]

1. Religion an assembly of church delegates that discusses and decides upon church affairs.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

syn•od  (sin′əd), n. 

1. Religion an assembly of ecclesiastics or other church delegates, convoked pursuant to the law of the church, for the discussion and decision of ecclesiastical affairs;
   ecclesiastical council.
2. any council.

• Greek sýnodos meeting, equivalent. to syn- syn- + (h)odós way
• Latin synodus
• Middle English 1350–1400

syn′od•al, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

synod / ˈsɪnəd ˈsɪnɒd/ noun

1. a local or special ecclesiastical council, esp of a diocese, formally convened to discuss ecclesiastical affairs

Etymology: 14th Century: from Late Latin synodus, from Greek sunodos, from syn- + hodos a way

ˈsynodal, synˈodical adjective