temple

1 of 2

noun (1)

tem·​ple ˈtem-pəl How to pronounce temple (audio)
Synonyms of templenext
1
: a building for religious practice: such as
a
often capitalized : either of two successive national sanctuaries in ancient Jerusalem
b
: a building for Mormon sacred ordinances
c
: the house of worship of Reform and some Conservative Jewish congregations
2
: a local lodge of any of various fraternal orders
also : the building housing it
3
: a place devoted to a special purpose
a temple of cuisine
templed
ˈtem-pəld How to pronounce temple (audio)
adjective

temple

2 of 2

noun (2)

1
: the flattened space on each side of the forehead of some mammals including humans
2
: one of the side supports of a pair of glasses jointed to the bows and passing on each side of the head

Synonyms

Noun (1)

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of temple in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The singles sat on gray mats in the center of the temple’s study hall, visibly tense because the two dozen reporters crammed in the back were causing a small scene. —Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024 The temple was founded in 1319, and then in 1546, powerful feudal lord Sorin Otomo dedicated it to his family. —Paula Deitz, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2024 Visitors to the temple must book a reservation for personal meditation and worship. —Kathleen Wong, Travel + Leisure, 21 Apr. 2024 Investigators also found a note left in a flower bed at the scene claiming the temple was bombed on orders from God, according the federal prosecutors. —Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2024 The massive temple is built on the site of a centuries-old mosque that was demolished in 1992 by a violent Hindu mob. —Aakash Hassan, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Apr. 2024 The event was supposed to take place in November but was moved after the start of the war, says Emily Kruse, the temple’s board president. —David Oliver, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024 To do that, the surgeon will make an incision that begins at the hairline near the temple and follows it down around the ear and back into the hairline. —Kara Nesvig, Allure, 17 Apr. 2024 The temple’s most unique feature, however, are three large dormer windows symbolizing the Holy Trinity. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'temple.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, in part going back to Old English tempel, templ, in part borrowed from Anglo-French temple, both borrowed from Latin templum "space of sky or land delimited orally by an augur, piece of ground used for taking auspices, sacred precinct, building consecrated to a deity," of uncertain origin

Note: Latin templum has been traditionally derived from the Indo-European verbal base tem- "cut" (see tome), on the assumption that the original templum was a space "cut out" by the augur; the suffix would presumably be -lo-, with the -p- secondary. Greek témenos "sacred precinct" has been compared. More recently templum as been associated with a putative *temp- "stretch, extend," assuming a further sense "measure" (see tempo); the templum would then be a space "measured" by an augur.

Noun (2)

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Vulgar Latin *tempula, altered (with conformation to the suffix -ula) from Latin tempora, plural (taken as feminine singular) of tempus "side of the forehead, temple," of uncertain origin

Note: On the assumption that Latin tempor-, tempus "time" meant originally "stretch, extent" (see tempo) tempus "temple" has been taken as a semantic bifurcation of the same word, the temple of the head being the place where the skin is stretched tightly against the skull. Compare Old Norse þunn-vangi, Old High German dunnwangi "temple," literally, "thin-cheek."

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of temple was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing temple

Dictionary Entries Near temple

template excavator

temple

Temple

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Cite this Entry

“Temple.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/temple. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.

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Kids Definition

temple

1 of 2 noun
tem·​ple ˈtem-pəl How to pronounce temple (audio)
: a building for worship

temple

2 of 2 noun
: the flattened space on each side of the forehead of some mammals including human beings

Medical Definition

temple

noun
tem·​ple ˈtem-pəl How to pronounce temple (audio)
1
: the flattened space on each side of the forehead of some mammals (as humans)
2
: one of the side supports of a pair of glasses jointed to the bows and passing on each side of the head

Geographical Definition

Temple

geographical name

Tem·​ple ˈtem-pəl How to pronounce Temple (audio)
city in northeast central Texas south-southwest of Waco population 66,102

Biographical Definition

Temple 1 of 4

biographical name (1)

Tem·​ple ˈtem-pəl How to pronounce Temple (audio)
Frederick 1821–1902 archbishop of Canterbury (1896–1902)

Temple

2 of 4

biographical name (2)

Shirley 1928–2014 Shirley Temple Black American actress and diplomat

Temple

3 of 4

biographical name (3)

Sir William 1628–1699 British statesman

Temple

4 of 4

biographical name (4)

William 1881–1944 son of Frederick Temple archbishop of Canterbury (1942–44)

More from Merriam-Webster on temple

Nglish: Translation of temple for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of temple for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about temple

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