plenary

American  

[plee-nuh-ree, plen-uh-] / ˈpli nə ri, ˈplɛn ə- /

adjective

1. full; complete; entire; absolute; unqualified.

   plenary powers.

2. attended by all qualified members; fully constituted.

   a plenary session of Congress.

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noun

plural

plenaries

1. a plenary session, meeting, or the like.

plenary British  

/ ˈplɛn-, ˈpliːnərɪ /

adjective

1. full, unqualified, or complete

   plenary powers

   plenary indulgence

2. (of assemblies, councils, etc) attended by all the members

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noun

1. a book of the gospels or epistles and homilies read at the Eucharist

Other Word Forms

• plenarily adverb

Etymology

Origin of plenary

First recorded in 1375–1425; from Late Latin plēnārius ( plenum, -ary ); replacing late Middle English plener, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin plēnāris ( -ar ¹ )

Example Sentences

The Alliance MLA Nick Mathison had asked Nesbitt during an assembly plenary if he was planning to introduce care and support plans for pupils with SEN when they leave school.

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2026

I think, frankly, he enjoys foreign policy because it is an area where the presidency has plenary power.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

However, there is one area in which the president does have absolute plenary authority: The power of the pardon.

From Salon • Nov. 16, 2025

Sejourne will share details from the talks on Tuesday with EU commissioners meeting during the European Parliament's plenary session in Strasbourg, France.

From Barron's • Oct. 19, 2025

Just after midnight on November 18, an interim constitution was approved by a plenary session of the multiparty conference.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela