'archisynagogue' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'ἀρχισυνάγωγος (archisynágōgos)', where 'archi-' meant 'chief' and 'synagogē' meant 'assembly, synagogue'.

'archisynagogue' passed into Late Latin/medieval ecclesiastical usage (e.g. Latinized forms like 'archisynagogus') from Greek and was adopted into English in scholarly and biblical contexts as 'archisynagogue'.

Initially it meant 'chief leader of a synagogue' in Greek usage, and this core meaning has been retained in English as a term for the principal synagogue officer.