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

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

An August referendum on restarting the reactor, held just three months after it closed, failed to attract a quorum, though the yes votes outweighed the noes.

From The Wall Street Journal

Frey, he said, had asked his delegates to leave in order to deny quorum.

From Salon