caucus

[ kaw-kuhs ]

See synonyms for caucus on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural cau·cus·es.

U.S. Politics.
- a local meeting of party members to select candidates, elect convention delegates, etc.
- a meeting of party members within a legislative body to select leaders and determine strategy.
- Often Caucus . a faction within a legislative body that pursues its interests through the legislative process: the Women's Caucus; the Black Caucus.
any group or meeting organized to further a special interest or cause.

verb (used without object)

to hold or meet in a caucus.

verb (used with object)

to bring up or hold for discussion in a caucus: The subject was caucused.
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.

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”

Words Nearby caucus

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use caucus in a sentence

For the first nine months of 2019, Pelosi also stood firm against liberals’ calls to impeach the president, even after a majority of her caucus demanded his ouster – all in the name of her frontliners.
Trump moves closer to Pelosi in economic aid talks, and House speaker must decide next move | Rachael Bade, Erica Werner | September 17, 2020 | Washington Post
She reportedly urged her caucus members not to be a “cheap date.”
Why House Democrats have good reason to be anxious about no coronavirus relief deal | Amber Phillips | September 17, 2020 | Washington Post
While she didn’t vote for the nuclear bailout bill at the heart of the Householder bribery scandal, 10 Democrats, more than a quarter of her caucus, did.
Can This Millennial Power Broker Lead an Ohio Comeback for Democrats? | Nick Fouriezos | September 10, 2020 | Ozy
Alexander Dobrindt, the deputy caucus leader and a member of the Bavarian branch of Merkel’s bloc, demanded new EU sanctions against Russia.
Pressure builds on Merkel to exit Russian pipeline deal to punish Putin | Bernhard Warner | September 3, 2020 | Fortune
The virtual caucus had 5,390 page views from 3,050 unique devices, a spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee told the Blade.
LGBTQ delegates at Democratic convention want to do more than beat Trump | Chris Johnson | August 19, 2020 | Washington Blade

Pat Robertson finished second in the 1988 Iowa caucus, and it was all downhill from there.
Can Huckabee Convert the GOP’s Moneymen? | Lloyd Green | January 4, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
In 2008 and 2012, Huckabee and Santorum, respectively won the Iowa caucus, but did not make it to the finish line.
Can Huckabee Convert the GOP’s Moneymen? | Lloyd Green | January 4, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
Both are considered marginal figures in the House GOP caucus and have no real base of support for their respective bids.
The YOLO Caucus' New Cry for Attention | Ben Jacobs | January 4, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
Also this week, he keynoted a fundraiser for Progress Iowa, an influential liberal group in the first-in-the-nation caucus state.
Why the Left Loves Warren, But Won’t Swoon for Sanders | David Freedlander | December 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The House caucus appears to be far more populist, feisty, and ready to push the debate on economic issues than it has in the past.
‘Cromnibus’ Passes, But Did Anyone Win? | Ben Jacobs | December 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
He represents that vast army of electors whom neither canvasser nor caucus has ever yet cajoled or bullied into a polling-booth.
Obiter Dicta | Augustine Birrell
On the night before the Freeport debate the question had also been considered in a hurried caucus of Lincoln's party friends.
A Short Life of Abraham Lincoln | John G. Nicolay
At a signal from the President of the Senate, a military band hidden in one of the caucus rooms began to play the national anthem.
The Five Arrows | Allan Chase
He had not taken his degrees in the caucus and in hack politics.
Charles Sumner; his complete works, volume 5 (of 20) | Charles Sumner
A caucus of imperial rulers was held at which the Emperor of Germany presided.
The Fall of a Nation | Thomas Dixon

British Dictionary definitions for caucus

caucus

/ (ˈkɔːkəs) /

nounplural -cuses

mainly US and Canadian
- a closed meeting of the members of one party in a legislative chamber, etc, to coordinate policy, choose candidates, etc
- such a bloc of politicians: the Democratic caucus in Congress
mainly US
- a group of leading politicians of one party
- a meeting of such a group

mainly US a local meeting of party members
British a group or faction within a larger group, esp a political party, who discuss tactics, choose candidates, etc
Australian a group of MPs from one party who meet to discuss tactics, etc
NZ a formal meeting of all Members of Parliament belonging to one political party

verb

(intr) to hold a caucus

Origin of caucus

C18: probably of Algonquian origin; related to caucauasu adviser

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for caucus

caucus

[ (kaw-kuhs) ]

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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