'archsynagogue' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'arch-' (from Greek 'arkhos') and 'synagogue' (from Greek 'synagōgē'), where 'arkhos' meant 'chief' and 'synagōgē' meant 'assembly'.

'archsynagogue' was formed in English by combining the prefix 'arch-' (which came into English via Latin/Old French from Greek) and 'synagogue' (from Latin 'synagoga', from Greek 'synagōgē'), eventually producing the Modern English compound 'archsynagogue'.

Initially, the roots meant 'chief' and 'assembly', and over time the compound came to mean specifically 'the principal or chief synagogue of a community'.