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

“In our view, neither the inflation nor growth outlook seem set to change sufficiently over the next month for the committee to sanction a further cut in November.”

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The White House slammed the perceived snub, accusing the Nobel committee of placing “politics over peace.”

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“We were able to compensate for the challenging conditions in China and the U.S. with partly significant increases in South America and Europe,” said Marco Schubert, member of the group’s extended executive committee for sales.

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Announcing the recipient of the prize at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo on Friday, the awarding committee warned that "democracy is in retreat" across the world.

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Stephenson is leading the search committee, with help from Rosenberg and his firm, The Athlete Group.

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Related Words

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