From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsynodsyn‧od /ˈsɪnəd, -nɒd $ -nəd/ noun [countable] RRCan important meeting of church members
Examples from the Corpus
synod• A large minority of bishops at a 1980 synod on the family, meanwhile, asked that the encyclical be reconsidered.• A synod or convention back in 1662 found the majority of ministers ready to compromise.• The clergy, however, preferred to discuss these matters in provincial clerical synods where they governed the procedures and priorities.• They held their own diocesan synods, ordained clergy, confirmed children and heard certain cases in their courts.• One other and not unrelated feature of these Edwardian synods deserves note.• We pray for the general synod as it meets shortly, for wise decisions and clear leadership.• This he achieved, securing the right for the curia to receive appeals, summon synods and approve bishops.• There were only a few dozen synagogues and fewer rabbis, yet the synod took two decades to convene.Origin synod (1300-1400) Late Latin synodus, from Greek synodos “meeting”, from syn- ( → SYN-) + hodos “way” 