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It’s hard to pinpoint the exact origins of caucus, but some scholars think the word may have developed from an Algonquian term for a group of elders, leaders, or advisers. An early example of the word in use comes from John Adams, who in February of 1763 reported that the Boston “caucus club,” a group of politically active city elders, would soon meet and that, at the meetings, those present would “smoke tobacco till you [could not] see from one end of the garret to the other.” A similarly opaque smoke screen seems to cloud the history of caucus to this day.
Examples of caucus in a Sentence
Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2025
In January, Moulton spoke separately with Rep. Mark Takano, chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, and Rep. Becca Balint, co-chair of the caucus, about ensuring that the caucus is open to different opinions on trans issues, according to two sources familiar.
—Oriana González, Them, 21 Mar. 2025
Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
On Friday, nine Democrats led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Independent Angus King who caucuses with them, voted with Republicans to advance a short-term spending bill to keep the government open.
—NBC News, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for caucus
Cite this Entry
“Caucus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caucus. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.
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caucus
noun
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