congress
Pluralcongresses
Pluralcongresses
Formscongresses, congressing, congressed
- 1A country's lawmaking body, especially the one in the United States.
Like a team chosen to write the rules that everyone must follow.
The new congress voted to raise the minimum wage.
Many countries elect a congress to write their laws.
UsageFor the US one, people usually say Congress, with no the: a member of Congress.
Similarparliament, legislature
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- 2A formal meeting where people discuss or decide a particular question.
Like a big meeting where everyone gathers to solve one problem together.
Scientists from many countries attended the medical congress in Vienna.
The peace congress brought rival leaders to the same table.
Similarconference, convention, assembly, summit, conclave
- 3A large group made up of smaller groups that work together.
Like a club whose members are themselves other clubs.
The trade congress represents workers from dozens of local unions.
Our union is one of many in the national labor congress.
Similarfederation, council, union
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Less common meanings
- 4To meet or gather together, especially for a formal meeting.
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- 5Sexual intercourse between two people.
The novel never describes their sexual congress, only the morning after.
Not three weeks before this he was run out of Fort Smith Arkansas for having congress with a goat. Yes lady, that is what I said. Goat.
1985, Cormac McCarthy, Blood MeridianHere, congress means sex.UsageUsually have congress with someone or sexual congress. It sounds stiff, and people sometimes use it as a joke.
Similarintercourse, coitus, copulation, coupling, relations
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- 6A group of baboons living or moving together.
A congress of baboons crossed the dusty road at dawn.
We watched a congress of baboons cross the dusty road.
UsageUsed in a congress of baboons. Most people just say a troop of baboons.
Similartroop
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- 7A meeting between two or more people.
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Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
From Latin congressum, a form of the verb congredior, meaning to come together. It comes from con- ('together') plus gradior ('I go, step').
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 5 facts
- Congress comes from Latin congressum. en.wiktionary.org
- Congressum is a past-participle form, meaning 'having come together'; 'to come together' glosses the verb congredior. en.wiktionary.org
- The Latin source ultimately combines con- and gradior. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin con- means 'together'. en.wiktionary.org
- Gradior means 'I go, step'. en.wiktionary.org