hymnal

noun

hym·​nal ˈhim-nəl How to pronounce hymnal (audio)
: a collection of church hymns

Examples of hymnal in a Sentence

hymnals are distributed among the congregation before the church service so everyone can join in the singing
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Worship music gained traction in the late ’70s and ’80s, when seminal CCM songwriters like Rich Mullins modernized the classic Protestant hymnal structure by combining it with the aesthetics of modern Black gospel, emphasizing a soaring, anthemic rock chorus that everyone could sing along to. Aja Romano, Vox, 8 July 2025 Walking the line of banger and hymnal always felt like something only Kesha could do. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 8 July 2025 At tiny churches, phones even come in handy as hymnals and the music accompaniment for singing praises and lifting joyful songs because there is no organ or choir. Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 3 July 2025 But now, after several days of protests and unrest in Los Angeles, everyone is once again reading from the same hymnal — condemning disorder and calling for a harsh crackdown. Vox Staff, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018 See All Example Sentences for hymnal

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hymnale, from Medieval Latin, from Latin hymnus

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hymnal was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hymnal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hymnal. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

hymnal

noun
hym·​nal ˈhim-nəl How to pronounce hymnal (audio)
: a book of hymns

More from Merriam-Webster on hymnal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!