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

But the new angle here is that it’s actually leadership — heads of the party, plus party whips and caucus chairs — who are the stock pickers to watch.

From MarketWatch

Guilbeault said he would continue to serve as a Liberal lawmaker in the government caucus.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Republican caucus was unified with three exceptions.

From Salon

Debate around it had been partially eclipsed by partisan drama between Carney's Liberals and the Conservative opposition, who lost a member of their caucus to the Liberals shortly after the fiscal plan was proposed.

From BBC

Democratic strategist Anthony Coley, a Senate campaign veteran, said he was “a huge fan” of the young representative, and said Schumer “lost control of his caucus.”

From Salon

Related Words

• convention
• gathering
• meeting
• session