congress
Congress (noun) means a formal meeting or conference to discuss or decide an issue. Example: “Delegates from forty countries attended the medical congress.”
How to use congress
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA formal meeting, or (capitalised) a country's national law-making body, especially in the US.
In the UK the equivalent body is called Parliament; "Congress" specifically refers to the US legislature (or similar bodies elsewhere).
Word forms
congressed past tense, congresses plural, Congresses plural, congresses singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Delegates from forty countries attended the medical _____.
Etymology
From Latin congressus, past participle of congredi, "to come together" — from con- + gradi ("to step, go").
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “congress” mean?
The word “congress” means a formal meeting or conference to discuss or decide an issue. In plain terms, a formal meeting, or (capitalised) a country's national law-making body, especially in the US.
How do you pronounce “congress”?
“Congress” is pronounced KONG-grehs (/ˈkɑŋɡɹəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “congress” in a sentence?
Here is “congress” used in a sentence: “Delegates from forty countries attended the medical congress.”
What is another word for “congress”?
Words with a similar meaning to “congress” include INC.
What part of speech is “congress”?
“Congress” is a noun.
Where does the word “congress” come from?
The word “congress” comes from Latin. From Latin congressus, past participle of congredi, "to come together" — from con- + gradi ("to step, go").
Is “congress” a common word?
“Congress” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “congress” have?
“Congress” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a formal meeting or conference to discuss or decide an issue.
What is the difference between a congress and a conference?
The two overlap, but a congress is usually larger and more formal — a major gathering of delegates or specialists convened to discuss and decide on important matters, often internationally. A conference can be smaller and more routine. In practice the words are often interchangeable, with "congress" implying greater scale and authority.
What is the difference between congress and Congress?
With a lowercase c, congress means any formal meeting or conference held to discuss an issue. Capitalized, Congress is a proper noun naming a specific legislature — most famously the United States Congress, the law-making body of senators and representatives. Context and capitalization tell you which sense is meant.
What is an example of a congress?
A medical congress might gather thousands of doctors to present research; a political congress could bring party delegates together to set policy. Historic examples include the Congress of Vienna, where European powers met to redraw the map after war. Each is a formal assembly convened to discuss or decide an issue.
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