congress

[ noun kong-gris; verb kuhn-gres, kuhng- ]

noun

1. (initial capital letter)
   1. the national legislative body of the U.S., consisting of the Senate, or upper house, and the House of Representatives, or lower house, as a continuous institution.
   2. this body as it exists for a period of two years during which it has the same membership:

      the Ninety-Seventh Congress.

   3. a session of this body:

      to speak in Congress.

2. the national legislative body of a nation, especially of a republic.
3. a formal meeting or assembly of representatives for the discussion, arrangement, or promotion of some matter of common interest.

   Synonyms: convention, council, conference

4. the act of coming together; an encounter; meeting.
5. an association, especially one composed of representatives of various organizations.
6. familiar relations; dealings intercourse.
7. sexual intercourse; coitus.

verb (used without object)

1. to assemble together; meet in congress.

congress

¹

/ ˈkɒŋɡrɛs /

noun

1. a meeting or conference, esp of representatives of a number of sovereign states
2. a national legislative assembly
3. a society or association
4. sexual intercourse

Congress

²

/ ˈkɒŋɡrɛs /

noun

1. the bicameral federal legislature of the US, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate
2. this body during any two-year term
3. Also calledCongress Party (in India) a major political party, which controlled the Union government from 1947 to 1977 Official nameIndian National Congress

Congress

1. The legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate . Popularly elected, senators and representatives are responsible for advocating the interests of the constituents they represent. Numerous congressional committees are organized to study issues of public policy, recommend action, and, ultimately, pass laws. Congress plays an important role in the system of checks and balances ; in fact, the two-house (bicameral) organization of Congress acts as an internal check, for each house must separately vote to pass a bill for it to become a law. In addition to lawmaking, Congress has a variety of functions, including appropriation of funds for executive and judicial activities; instituting taxes and regulating commerce; declaring war and raising and supporting a military; setting up federal courts and conducting impeachment proceedings; and approving presidential appointments.

Derived Forms

• Conˈgressional, adjective

Other Words From

• pre-Congress noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of congress¹

First recorded in 1350–1400 for earlier sense “body of attendants, following”; Middle English, from Latin congressus “assembly, intercourse, meeting,” equivalent to congred(ī) “to approach, meet” ( con- “with, together” + -gredī, combining form of gradī “to step”) + -tus suffix of verbal action; con-; grade

Word History and Origins

Origin of congress¹

C16: from Latin congressus from congredī to meet with, from com- together + gradī to walk, step

Example Sentences

Historically the reelection rate for members of Congress is in the area of 95 percent.

From The Daily Beast

The breakdown of the 114th Congress is 80 percent white, 80 percent male, and 92 percent Christian.

From The Daily Beast

With all that said, representation of each of these respective communities has increased in the new Congress.

From The Daily Beast

This Congress will welcome more women than ever before at 19 percent of the House and 20 percent of the Senate.

From The Daily Beast

How far has Congress really evolved on race when in 50 years it has gone from one black senator to two?

From The Daily Beast

In nine days he returned, bringing us the thanks of congress, and fresh orders.

From Project Gutenberg

He was a member of the first provincial congress, and eighteen years lieutenant governor of the state of New York.

From Project Gutenberg

Our army, under the command of General Houston, was in front of Harrisburg, to which place the congress had retreated.

From Project Gutenberg

Congress declared the authority of England over the thirteen colonies abolished.

From Project Gutenberg

During the revolutionary war he was commissary-general to the Pennsylvania division, and printer to congress.

From Project Gutenberg