congress

noun

con·​gress ˈkäŋ-grəs 

 also  -rəs,

 British usually  ˈkäŋ-ˌgres

1

a

: the act or action of coming together and meeting

b

: coitus

2

: a formal meeting of delegates for discussion and usually action on some question

the Congress of Vienna

3

: the supreme legislative body of a nation and especially of a republic

the Congress of the United States

4

: an association usually made up of delegates from constituent organizations

the World Energy Congress

5

: a single meeting or session of a group

congressional

kən-ˈgresh-nəl 

kän-

-ˈgre-shə-nᵊl

adjective

congressionally adverb

Synonyms

• parliament

Examples of congress in a Sentence

She was recently elected to the country's congress.

the congresses of Mexico and Chile

The bill easily passed both houses of Congress.

Congress is not currently in session.

Recent Examples on the Web

That power can be vested in a congress or parliament. —Ian Millhiser, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018

His twin brother, Scott, also wanted to be student congress president at their suburban New Jersey high school. —Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 3 Aug. 2024

Marine Le Pen and her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, listen to a speech during the 15th congress of the far-right National Front in Lyon, France, in 2014.Jeff Pachoud / AFP via Getty Images file Who are the major players in the election? —Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 29 June 2024

All 128 seats in the Senate and all 500 in the lower house, local congresses in 31 states, nine state governorships, and the mayoralty of Mexico City will also be on the ballot. —Denise Dresser, Foreign Affairs, 17 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin congressus, from congredi to come together, from com- + gradi to go — more at grade entry 1

First Known Use

1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing congress

• congress person

Kids Definition

congress

noun

con·​gress ˈkäŋ-grəs 

1

: a formal meeting of delegates for discussion and action

2

: the chief lawmaking body of a nation and especially of a republic that in the U.S. is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives

3

: an association of organizations having a common interest

congressional

kən-ˈgresh-nəl

-ən-ᵊl

adjective

congressionally

-ē

adverb

Medical Definition

congress

noun

con·​gress

ˈkäŋ-grəs also -rəs, British usually ˈkäŋ-ˌgres

: coitus

Legal Definition

congress

noun

con·​gress

1

: a formal meeting of delegates

2

a

: the supreme legislative body of a nation and especially a republic

b

capitalized : the legislative branch of the United States government

specifically : the U.S. House of Representatives

3

capitalized

a

: the U.S. legislature as it is composed for an enumerated two-year period

the 101st Congress

b

: a single session of the U.S. legislature see also house of representatives, senate

congressional adjective

congressionally adverb

Etymology

Latin congressus meeting, encounter, from congredi to approach, meet