quorum

American  

[kwawr-uhm, kwohr-] / ˈkwɔr əm, ˈkwoʊr- /

noun

1. the number of members of a group or organization required to be present to transact business legally, usually a majority.

2. a particularly chosen group.

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quorum British  

/ ˈkwɔːrəm /

noun

1. a minimum number of members in an assembly, society, board of directors, etc, required to be present before any valid business can be transacted

   the quorum is forty

   we don't have a quorum

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quorum Cultural  

1. The minimum number of members of a committee or legislative body who must be present before business can officially or legally be conducted. In the United States Congress, for example, either house must have a majority (218 in the House of Representatives, 51 in the Senate) to have a quorum.

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Etymology

Origin of quorum

First recorded in 1400–50; from Latin quōrum “of whom”; from its use in Latin legal formulas for commissioning justices of the peace

Example Sentences

The president has appointed a quorum of new board members, who are poised to deliver reform and results.

From The Wall Street Journal

To prevent that, they used a natural bacterial communication process called quorum sensing.

From Science Daily

Inside the human mouth, roughly 700 different bacterial species constantly exchange information through a process called quorum sensing.

From Science Daily

Abbott later changed tact, removing references to the DOJ letter when he called lawmakers back for a second special session, after Democrats returned from their quorum break.

From Salon

Parliament did not have a quorum when it began its session to vote on Zandanshatar's removal, the president's office said.

From Barron's