house of god: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, religious
Quick answer
What does “house of god” mean?
A building or place dedicated to religious worship or considered sacred, typically to a monotheistic deity.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A building or place dedicated to religious worship or considered sacred, typically to a monotheistic deity.
Any place or object regarded with deep religious reverence or as a sanctuary. It can also refer to a church community as an institution.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slight preference in the UK for 'house of God' over 'house of God'? Usage is largely identical, though US contexts may use it more freely in broader, non-denominational spiritual discourse.
Connotations
In both varieties, the term connotes reverence. In UK English, it may have slightly stronger historical/established church associations, while in US English it may be used more broadly across diverse faith groups.
Frequency
More frequent in religious and formal written contexts than in everyday speech in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “house of god” in a Sentence
The [adj] house of GodWorship in the house of GodConsider sth the house of GodVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “house of god” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The congregation will house-of-God their meetings in the new hall.
- They sought to house-of-God the sacred relics.
American English
- The community worked to house-of-God their worship space.
- They plan to house-of-God the new fellowship centre.
adverb
British English
- He spoke house-of-God softly.
- The ceremony proceeded house-of-God slowly.
American English
- She sang house-of-God beautifully.
- They acted house-of-God respectfully.
adjective
British English
- The house-of-God atmosphere was palpable.
- They maintained a house-of-God silence.
American English
- The house-of-God feeling was welcoming.
- It was a house-of-God experience for all.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used, except perhaps in ethical business discourse referring to corporate responsibility to communities.
Academic
Used in theological, historical, or sociological studies of religion and sacred architecture.
Everyday
Used in religious communities and in formal or respectful references to a church, mosque, synagogue, etc.
Technical
Not a technical term, but used in liturgical studies and religious architecture.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “house of god”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “house of god”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “house of god”
- Using 'house of God' to refer to any impressive building (e.g., 'That library is a house of God').
- Capitalising unnecessarily outside of proper nouns (e.g., 'We visited the House of God').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while it originated in Abrahamic faiths, it can be used broadly for any place considered sacred to a deity, though terms like temple, mosque, or gurdwara are often more specific.
Rarely in modern usage. It primarily denotes a public or communal place of worship. Metaphorically, one might say 'my body is a temple' or similar, but not typically 'a house of God' for a private home.
'Church' is more specific to Christianity and can refer to the building, the institution, or the congregation. 'House of God' is a more formal, reverential term focusing on the building's sacred function and is interfaith in potential.
Yes, when referring to the monotheistic deity, 'God' is a proper noun and is capitalised. In polytheistic or generic metaphorical uses (e.g., 'house of the gods'), it would not be.
A building or place dedicated to religious worship or considered sacred, typically to a monotheistic deity.
House of god is usually formal, religious in register.
House of god: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhaʊs əv ˈɡɒd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhaʊs əv ˈɡɑːd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A man's home is his castle, but a house of God belongs to everyone.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'God' resides in a 'house' of peace and worship, not a home for people.
Conceptual Metaphor
GOD IS A RESIDENT; RELIGION IS A BUILDING; HOLINESS IS CLEANLINESS/ORDER.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the phrase 'house of God' LEAST likely to be used?