noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
Refers to a group of people gathered for a meeting, lecture, or religious service. Often used in formal or religious contexts.
The audience listened attentively to the lecture.
The church congregation sang a hymn.
Compound of 会 (kai, 'meeting') and 衆 (shū, 'multitude'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with a gathered group.