plenary

[plee-nuh-ree, plen-uh-]

adjective

1. full; complete; entire; absolute; unqualified.

   plenary powers.

2. attended by all qualified members; fully constituted.

   a plenary session of Congress.

noun

plural

plenaries 

1. a plenary session, meeting, or the like.

plenary

/ ˈplɛn-, ˈpliːnərɪ /

adjective

1. full, unqualified, or complete

   plenary powers

   plenary indulgence

2. (of assemblies, councils, etc) attended by all the members

noun

1. a book of the gospels or epistles and homilies read at the Eucharist

Other Word Forms

• plenarily adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of plenary¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; from Late Latin plēnārius ( plenum, -ary ); replacing late Middle English plener, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin plēnāris ( -ar ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of plenary¹

C15: from Late Latin plēnārius, from Latin plēnus full; related to Middle English plener; see _plenum

Example Sentences

A Russian delegate described proceedings as "chaos" as he addressed the plenary Friday after talks had lasted into the early hours.

Read more on Barron's

The party’s governing Central Committee could appoint new members to the CMC at a plenary meeting next week.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Miller responded by saying the president has “plenary authority” before going silent midsentence — a moment that the host said may have been a technical issue.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Just as in the Seal Team Six scenario, the president’s pardon power is also plenary, so there’s no exposure there either.

Read more on Salon

On Friday, the Kremlin leader delivered the keynote speech at the forum's plenary session.

Read more on BBC