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

Faena Rose is a private social club in Miami Beach focused on art and culture, whose members are vetted by a committee and pay $15,000 initially and another $15,000 annually.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Gjogjieska said the families demanded that lawmakers set up a special inquiry committee into the disaster.

Read more on Barron's

"Now that our global audience is really growing, people don't always understand what the union name is," added awards committee chair JoBeth Williams.

Read more on BBC

If she wins, let’s hope she doesn’t get a seat on a committee that has anything to do with money or investing.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Now that our global audience is really growing, people don’t always understand what the union name is,” says awards committee chair JoBeth Williams.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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