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Mosques were known to the English-speaking world long before we called them mosques. In the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries, we used many different variations of the word—moseak, muskey, moschy, mos’keh, among others—until we finally hit on mosquee, emulating Middle French. The Middle French word had come by way of Italian and Old Spanish from the Arabic word for "temple," which is masjid. In the early 1700s, we settled on the present spelling, and mosque thus joined other English words related to Muslim worship: mihrab, for the special niche in a mosque that points towards Mecca; minaret, for the tall slender tower of a mosque; and muezzin, for the crier who, standing in the minaret, calls the hour of daily prayers.
Examples of mosque in a Sentence
Niraj Warikoo, USA Today, 14 Mar. 2026
Because of its proximity to the mosque, many don’t realize that 50% of the pantry’s clientele is non-Muslim.
—Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Fouad Berry, a board member at the Islamic Institute of Knowledge in Dearborn, Michigan, said that the community center and mosque is heightening security because of the war.
—Amaarah Decuir, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2026
Lots of temples and mosques have spaces to wash feet outside, and most require you to step out of your footwear before exploring the holy space.
—Alexandra Pereira, Travel + Leisure, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mosque
Cite this Entry
“Mosque.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mosque. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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mosque
noun
