committee

noun

com·​mit·​tee kə-ˈmi-tē 

 sense 2 also  ˌkä-mi-ˈtē

1

a

: a body of persons delegated to consider, investigate, take action on, or report on some matter

an advisory committee

specifically : a group of fellow legislators chosen by a legislative body to give consideration to legislative matters

The bill has been sent back to committee.

b

: a self-constituted organization for the promotion of a common object

the Olympic Committee

the Northwest Wildlife Committee

c

US sports, informal : a group of players on a team who share a particular role in the team's play instead of having an individual player principally assigned to that role

After going with a committee of running backs last season, the Chiefs were hoping Bam Morris would be able to go the full 16 games as the feature runner, something he has never done in his career.

—Bob Fedas

2

archaic : a person to whom a charge or trust is committed

Synonyms

• commission
• panel

Examples of committee in a Sentence

We're waiting for recommendations from the advisory committee.

The bill has been referred back to committee.

Recent Examples on the Web

In a 2022 op-ed for Fox News Digital, Patel called for a committee to take the FBI and Justice Department to task for alleged abuses of power against conservatives. —Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 30 Jan. 2025

On Tuesday night, the state Senate committee accelerated a plan to establish an education savings account program. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025

Kennedy also stumbled when lawmakers pressed him about potential changes to Medicaid, with Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden, the ranking member of the finance committee, suggesting Kennedy didn’t seem to know the difference between Medicare and Medicaid. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 30 Jan. 2025

He was reported out of the committee last week in an 8-7 party-line vote. —David Sivak, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 30 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English commyttee, from committen "to commit" + -ee -ee entry 1

Note: Stress on the penultimate syllable is perhaps by association with Latin comitia comitia.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing committee

• committee of the whole
• die in committee
• political action committee
• school committee
• standing committee
• steering committee
• vigilance committee

Kids Definition

committee

noun

com·​mit·​tee kə-ˈmit-ē 

: a group of persons appointed or elected to consider or take action on some matter

a legislative committee

Legal Definition

committee

noun

com·​mit·​tee

1

: a person to whom a charge (as an incompetent) is committed compare conservator, curator, guardian, tutor

2

a

: a body of persons delegated or assigned to consider, investigate, act on, or report on some matter

especially : a group of fellow legislators chosen by a legislative body to consider legislative matters (as drafting bills or conducting hearings)

the Senate judiciary committee

see also conference committee, joint committee

b

: a private organization for the promotion of a common object

political action committees

compare council