consortium

noun

con·​sor·​tium kən-ˈsȯr-sh(ē-)əm 

-ˈsȯr-tē-əm

plural consortia kən-ˈsȯr-sh(ē-)ə 

-ˈsȯr-tē-ə

also consortiums

1

: an agreement, combination, or group (as of companies) formed to undertake an enterprise beyond the resources of any one member

A consortium of researchers decoded the honeybee genome.

2

: association, society

3

: the legal right of one spouse to the company, affection, and assistance of and to sexual relations with the other

Synonyms

• association
• board
• brotherhood
• chamber
• club
• college
• congress
• council
• fellowship
• fraternity
• guild
• gild
• institute
• institution
• league
• order
• organization
• society
• sodality

Examples of consortium in a Sentence

A Japanese consortium invested millions in the technology.

a consortium for the prevention of animal cruelty

Recent Examples on the Web

Collaborate with fintechs, blockchain infrastructure firms, or consortiums that can provide expertise and reduce implementation risk. —Ron Shevlin, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025

The consortium also includes the Abu Dhabi Development Holding Co and global private equity firm Carlyle Group. —Amala Balakrishner, CNBC, 16 June 2025

Steven Witkoff, the Trump administration’s top negotiator, has proffered a plan that reportedly suggests outsourcing Iran’s uranium enrichment to a regional consortium. —Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 12 June 2025

In 2024, Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced a consortium of two Turkish and one Chinese company to develop the Dubai Metro Blue Line, which spans 18 miles and includes 14 stations. —Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, fellowship, from consort-, consors — see consort entry 1

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Legal Definition

consortium

noun

con·​sor·​tium kən-ˈsȯr-shəm; -shē-əm 

plural consortia -shə, -shē-ə  also consortiums

1

: an agreement, combination, or group (as of companies) formed to undertake an enterprise beyond the resources of any one member

2

[Medieval Latin, marital partnership, from Latin] : the right of one spouse to the company, affection, and assistance of and to sexual relations with the other

also : the right of a parent or child to the company, affection, and assistance of the other

suing for loss of consortium

compare society

Etymology

Latin, sharing, partnership, from consort-, consors sharer, partner