noun
Very common
congress
KONG-grehs
Congress (noun) means a formal meeting or conference to discuss or decide an issue. Example: “The annual congress of the teachers' association takes place in a different city every year.”
noun
1
A formal meeting or conference to discuss or decide an issue.
"The annual congress of the teachers' association takes place in a different city every year."
"She presented her research at an international congress on climate science last spring."
"Delegates from forty countries attended the medical congress."
2
A national legislative body, especially (capitalized) the law-making body of the United States.
"Members of Congress spent the afternoon debating a new transport proposal."
"In the United States, Congress is made up of two chambers."
"The bill still needs approval from Congress before it becomes law."
3
An association made up of smaller groups or representatives.
"The congress brings together delegates from many local clubs under one national banner."
"Each regional society sends two representatives to the national congress of historical societies."
"The trade union congress represents workers across dozens of industries."
How to use congress
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA formal meeting, or (capitalised) a country's national law-making body, especially in the US.
UK vs US
In the UK the equivalent body is called Parliament; "Congress" specifically refers to the US legislature (or similar bodies elsewhere).
Common pairings
pass Congress
a member of Congress
an act of Congress
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Word forms
- Plural
- congresses
- Third person singular
- congresses
- Past tense
- congressed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The annual _____ of the teachers' association takes place in a different city every year.
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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