congress

[ noun kong-gris; verb kuhn-gres, kuhng- ]
/ noun ˈkɒŋ grɪs; verb kənˈgrɛs, kəŋ- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR congress ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

verb (used without object)

to assemble together; meet in congress.

Origin of congress

1350–1400 for earlier sense “body of attendants, following”; 1520–30 for current senses; Middle English < Latin congressus assembly, intercourse, meeting, equivalent to congred(ī) to approach, meet ( con- con- + -gredī, combining form of gradī to step; cf. grade) + -tus suffix of v. action

OTHER WORDS FROM congress

pre-Con·gress, noun

Words nearby congress

congregation, congregational, congregational church, congregationalism, congregationalists, congress, congress boot, congress of industrial organizations, congress of vienna, congress on racial equality, congress party

Words related to congress

council, society, committee, conference, union, convention, meeting, caucus, parliament, assembly, conclave, government, club, convocation, association, legislature, league, guild, chamber, order

Example sentences from the Web for congress

British Dictionary definitions for congress (1 of 2)

congress
/ (ˈkɒŋɡrɛs) /

noun

a meeting or conference, esp of representatives of a number of sovereign states
a national legislative assembly
a society or association
sexual intercourse

Word Origin for congress

C16: from Latin congressus from congredī to meet with, from com- together + gradī to walk, step

British Dictionary definitions for congress (2 of 2)

Congress
/ (ˈkɒŋɡrɛs) /

noun

the bicameral federal legislature of the US, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate
this body during any two-year term
Also called: Congress Party (in India) a major political party, which controlled the Union government from 1947 to 1977 Official name: Indian National Congress

Derived forms of Congress

Congressional, adjective

Cultural definitions for congress

Congress

The legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Popularly elected, senators and representatives are responsible for advocating the interests of the constituents they represent. Numerous congressional committees are organized to study issues of public policy, recommend action, and, ultimately, pass laws. Congress plays an important role in the system of checks and balances; in fact, the two-house (bicameral) organization of Congress acts as an internal check, for each house must separately vote to pass a bill for it to become a law. In addition to lawmaking, Congress has a variety of functions, including appropriation of funds for executive and judicial activities; instituting taxes and regulating commerce; declaring war and raising and supporting a military; setting up federal courts and conducting impeachment proceedings; and approving presidential appointments.