congressional
Americanadjective
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of or relating to a congress.
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(usually initial capital letter) of or relating to the Congress of the U.S..
a Congressional committee.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of congressional
1685–95; < Latin congressiōn- (stem of congressiō ) a coming together, equivalent to congress ( us ) ( see congress) + -iōn- -ion + -al 1
Explanation
Anything congressional is related to a congress, which is the law-making body of a country. Congress (with a capital “c”) is the law-making branch of the US government. Silly campaign ads start showing up before a congressional race. Congressional most often describes anything related to the US Congress. Congress is the legislative branch of the government, made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. These people are voted in. In the US, you vote for a representative in your congressional district. Congressional districts are decided by population, and each state has at least one representative in congress. Congressional hearings are meetings where laws are discussed. Congressional cocktail parties are where members of congress whoop it up.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz introduced a similarly failed constitutional amendment for the upper congressional chamber last year.
From Slate ● Sep. 3, 2026
Estimates from the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation indicate even bigger numbers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
In late May, a US judge ruled that the president's name had been added to the venue unlawfully, as it cannot be renamed without congressional approval.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
They are paying particular attention to districts with competitive congressional races and where past problems have arisen.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026
Samuel Morse changed the news business forever when he electronically transmitted the results of a congressional vote in Washington, DC, to a newspaper in Baltimore across a copper wire back in 1844.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
