congressional
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to a congress.
-
(usually initial capital letter) of or relating to the Congress of the U.S..
a Congressional committee.
adjective
Other Word Forms
- congressionalist noun
- congressionally adverb
- non-Congressional adjective
- precongressional adjective
- pro-Congressional adjective
- uncongressional adjective
Etymology
Origin of congressional
1685–95; < Latin congressiōn- (stem of congressiō ) a coming together, equivalent to congress ( us ) ( 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.
Vandervelden in court filings argued that overruns in the Fed’s headquarters renovation raised the “specter of fraud” and that “possible discrepancies” in Powell’s congressional testimony raised the “specter of false statements.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026
Sen. Adam Schiff — one of Swalwell’s most significant backers — joined an exodus of congressional lawmakers withdrawing their support.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026
Some have backed the administration's handling of the conflict, while others -- though uneasy about the lack of congressional oversight -- have stopped short of supporting measures that could constrain military operations.
From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, laid out American concerns during a congressional hearing in September 2025.
From Salon • Apr. 9, 2026
Despite congressional apathy and obstruction, the suffragists remained steadfast.
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
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.
