Congress — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈkäŋ-grəs/ con·gress

Meaning & Definition of Congress

Congress (noun)

  1. the act or action of coming together and meeting
  2. coitus
  3. a formal meeting of delegates for discussion and usually action on some question

Congress (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the highest lawmaking body of a political unit

    "the national emergency required a special session of congress"

    similar: parliament
    related: assembly, chamber, council, diet, house, legislative, legislature, general assembly, legislative assembly

  2. a coming together of a number of persons for a specified purpose

    "following World War I a great congress of world leaders took place in Paris to plan the postwar world"

    similar: assembly, convention, convocation, council, gathering, get-together, huddle, meeting
    related: clinic, workshop, cabinet, caucus, conclave, synod, demonstration, rally, confab, conversation, dialogue, discourse, discussion, palaver, talk, negotiation, parley, summit, conference, forum, round-robin, roundtable, seminar, symposium, audience, interview, session

  3. a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest

    "the Canada Trades and Labor Congress"

    similar: association, board, brotherhood, chamber, club, college, consortium, council, fellowship, fraternity, guild, institute, institution, league, order, organization, society, sodality
    related: collective, commune, community, cooperative, alliance, bloc, camp, coalition, partnership, body, cadre, group, circle, clan, clique, coterie, junta, junto, klatch, lot, set, crew, outfit, party, squad, team, branch, chapter, local, faithful, fold, membership, sisterhood, sorority, cabal, camarilla, camorra, confederacy, conspiracy, band, gang, ring, cartel, combine, syndicate

  4. sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis

    "laws that once prohibited congress between people of different races"

    similar: coition, coitus, commerce, copulating, copulation, coupling, intercourse, lovemaking, mating, relations, sex, sex act, sexual intercourse, sexual relations, getting it on, making love
    related: fornication, safe sex, carnality, sexuality, breeding, insemination, dalliance, hanky-panky, whoopee

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Congress

The most common words with a similar meaning to Congress:

parliament, assembly, convention, convocation, council, gathering, get-together, huddle, meeting, association, board, brotherhood, chamber, club, college, consortium, fellowship, fraternity, guild, institute, institution, league, order, organization, society, sodality, coition, coitus, commerce, copulating, copulation, coupling, intercourse, lovemaking, mating, relations, sex, sex act, sexual intercourse, sexual relations

Related Words for Congress

diet, house, legislative, legislature, general assembly, legislative assembly, clinic, workshop, cabinet, caucus, conclave, synod, demonstration, rally, confab, conversation, dialogue, discourse, discussion, palaver, talk, negotiation, parley, summit, conference, forum, round-robin, roundtable, seminar, symposium

Word Forms of Congress

Derived words: congressional (adjective), congressionally (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Congress

Latin congressus, from congredi to come together, from com- + gradi to go grade:1

First known use: 1528

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Congress

  • Topics: Law, Politics & Society

Words & Phrases Containing Congress

congressperson

Frequently Asked Questions about Congress

What does "Congress" mean?

"Congress" means the act or action of coming together and meeting. As a noun, it is defined as: the act or action of coming together and meeting. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Congress"?

Other words for "Congress" include parliament, assembly, convention, convocation, council, gathering, get-together and huddle. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Congress" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Congress"?

There are 129 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Congress". Common alternatives include parliament, assembly, convention, convocation, council, gathering, get-together, huddle, meeting and association.

How do you use "Congress" in a sentence?

Examples of "Congress" in a sentence: "the national emergency required a special session of congress"; "following World War I a great congress of world leaders took place in Paris to plan the postwar world"; "the Canada Trades and Labor Congress".

Is "Congress" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Congress" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Congress"?

"Congress" is pronounced /ˈkäŋ-grəs/ and divided into syllables as con·gress.

What is the origin of the word "Congress"?

"Congress" comes from Latin congressus, from congredi to come together, from com- + gradi to go grade:1. First known use: 1528.

What is another word for "Congress" meaning "the highest lawmaking body of a political unit"?

When "Congress" (noun) means the highest lawmaking body of a political unit, synonyms include parliament.