congress

[ noun kong-gris; verb kuhn-gres, kuhng- ]

/ noun ˈkɒŋ grɪs; verb kənˈgrɛs, kəŋ- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR congress ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

(initial capital letter)

the national legislative body of the U.S., consisting of the Senate, or upper house, and the House of Representatives, or lower house, as a continuous institution.
this body as it exists for a period of two years during which it has the same membership: the Ninety-Seventh Congress.
a session of this body: to speak in Congress.

the national legislative body of a nation, especially of a republic.

a formal meeting or assembly of representatives for the discussion, arrangement, or promotion of some matter of common interest.

the act of coming together; an encounter; meeting.

an association, especially one composed of representatives of various organizations.

familiar relations; dealings; intercourse.

coitus; sexual intercourse.

verb (used without object)

to assemble together; meet in congress.

Nearby words

congregation, congregational, congregational church, congregationalism, congregationalists, congress, congress boot, congress of industrial organizations, congress of vienna, congress on racial equality, congress party

Origin of congress

1350–1400 for earlier sense “body of attendants, following”; 1520–30 for current senses; Middle English < Latin congressus assembly, intercourse, meeting, equivalent to congred(ī) to approach, meet (con- con- + -gredī, combining form of gradī to step; cf. grade) + -tus suffix of v. action

SYNONYMS FOR congress

3 conference, council, convention.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR congress ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

pre-Con·gress, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for congress

Historically the reelection rate for members of Congress is in the area of 95 percent.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Congress|Dean Obeidallah|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
With all that said, representation of each of these respective communities has increased in the new Congress.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Congress|Dean Obeidallah|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
This Congress will welcome more women than ever before at 19 percent of the House and 20 percent of the Senate.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Congress|Dean Obeidallah|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Congress is now 92 percent Christian, resembling more to a papal enclave than our religiously diverse nation.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Congress|Dean Obeidallah|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Latinos, the fastest growing minority group in America, are even more underrepresented in Congress.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Congress|Dean Obeidallah|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The first abstract of votes polled in St. Croix county was for delegate to Congress and for county officers.
Fifty Years In The Northwest|William Henry Carman Folsom
Congress have made corporations, and exercised complete legislation in the Western Territory.
Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. I (of 16)|Thomas Hart Benton
For these and other reasons, your petitioners pray that Congress will establish its sovereignty over said Territory.
A History of Oregon, 1792-1849|William Henry Gray
He felt hurt, too, that Congress had promoted others and had only blame for him.
George Washington|Calista McCabe Courtenay
So it can be seen what service Congress did us in the way of protection.
Last Words|Stephen Crane

British Dictionary definitions for congress (1 of 2)

congress

/ (ˈkɒŋɡrɛs) /

noun

a meeting or conference, esp of representatives of a number of sovereign states

a national legislative assembly

a society or association

sexual intercourse

Word Origin for congress

C16: from Latin congressus from congredī to meet with, from com- together + gradī to walk, step

British Dictionary definitions for congress (2 of 2)

Congress

/ (ˈkɒŋɡrɛs) /

noun

the bicameral federal legislature of the US, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate

this body during any two-year term

Also called: Congress Party (in India) a major political party, which controlled the Union government from 1947 to 1977Official name: Indian National Congress

Derived Forms

Congressional, adjective

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

Culture definitions for congress

Congress

The legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Popularly elected, senators and representatives are responsible for advocating the interests of the constituents they represent. Numerous congressional committees are organized to study issues of public policy, recommend action, and, ultimately, pass laws. Congress plays an important role in the system of checks and balances; in fact, the two-house (bicameral) organization of Congress acts as an internal check, for each house must separately vote to pass a bill for it to become a law. In addition to lawmaking, Congress has a variety of functions, including appropriation of funds for executive and judicial activities; instituting taxes and regulating commerce; declaring war and raising and supporting a military; setting up federal courts and conducting impeachment proceedings; and approving presidential appointments.