caucus

American  

[kaw-kuhs] / ˈkɔ kəs /

noun

plural

caucuses

1. U.S. Politics.

   1. a local meeting of party members to select candidates, elect convention delegates, etc.

   2. a meeting of party members within a legislative body to select leaders and determine strategy.

   3. Often Caucus a faction within a legislative body that pursues its interests through the legislative process.

      the Women's Caucus; the Black Caucus.

2. any group or meeting organized to further a special interest or cause.

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verb (used without object)

1. to hold or meet in a caucus.

verb (used with object)

1. to bring up or hold for discussion in a caucus.

   The subject was caucused.

2. to bring together or poll in a caucus.

   The paper caucused its new editorial board on Friday.

   The chairman caucused the water pollution committee before making recommendations.

caucus British  

/ ˈkɔːkəs /

noun

1. 1. a closed meeting of the members of one party in a legislative chamber, etc, to coordinate policy, choose candidates, etc

   2. such a bloc of politicians

      the Democratic caucus in Congress

2. 1. a group of leading politicians of one party

   2. a meeting of such a group

3. a local meeting of party members

4. a group or faction within a larger group, esp a political party, who discuss tactics, choose candidates, etc

5. a group of MPs from one party who meet to discuss tactics, etc

6. a formal meeting of all Members of Parliament belonging to one political party

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verb

1. (intr) to hold a caucus

caucus Cultural  

1. A meeting of members of a political party to nominate candidates, choose convention delegates, plan campaign tactics, determine party policy, or select leaders for a legislature.

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Etymology

Origin of caucus

An Americanism dating back to 1755–65; apparently first used in the name of the Caucus Club of colonial Boston; further origin uncertain; perhaps from Medieval Latin caucus “drinking vessel,” Late Latin caucum, from Greek kaûkos; perhaps from Virginia Algonquian Cawcawwassough “elders of the Chickahominy people”

Example Sentences

The military caucus accounts for more than one-third of lawmaker dismissals this term, far surpassing any other delegation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026

Anand also said that she and the prime minister welcomed the diversity of views within the Liberal Party, speaking ahead of a caucus meeting where they will discuss the conflict.

From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026

A spokesperson confirmed to The Times that Schiff briefed fellow Democrats during a caucus lunch Wednesday on potential strategies for combating such a move.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 29, 2026

The caucus also called Patel’s comments “completely incorrect.”

From Salon • Jan. 26, 2026

In the preceding days, he’d been pulling members of the committee aside in the caucus room to lobby them.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

Related Words

• convention
• gathering
• meeting
• session