committee

[kuh-mit-ee]

noun

1. a person or group of persons elected or appointed to perform some service or function, as to investigate, report on, or act upon a particular matter.

2. standing committee.

3. Law.,  an individual to whom the care of a person or a person's estate is committed.

committee

noun

1. a group of people chosen or appointed to perform a specified service or function

2. (formerly) a person to whom the care of a mentally incompetent person or his property was entrusted by a court See also receiver

Grammar Note

See collective noun.

Other Word Forms

• committeeism noun
• committeeship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of committee¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Anglo-French; commit, -ee

Word History and Origins

Origin of committee¹

C15: from committen to entrust + _-ee

Example Sentences

Supporters of Proposition 50 have vastly outraised the committees opposing the measure.

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The prize committee said it was "a replicable model for water ecosystem restoration -- one pond at a time."

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Hang Seng said it’s convening an independent committee to evaluate the bid.

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“Because of the lack of trust in the replacement committee, our organization is now relying on outside experts,” he said.

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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said during an appearance before a Senate committee last month that the FDA was examining the science behind mifepristone and collecting “new data.”

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Related Words

• board 
• bureau 
• cabinet 
• chamber 
• commission 
• jury 
• panel 
• task force