congress

1 of 2

noun

con·​gress ˈkäŋ-grəs 

also -rəs

British usually ˈkäŋ-ˌgres

1

a

: the act or action of coming together and meeting

b

: coitus

2

or Congress : a formal meeting of delegates for discussion and usually action on some question

the Congress of Vienna

3

or Congress

a

: the supreme legislative body of a nation and especially of a republic

b

: the legislative branch of the U.S. government

specifically : a session of the U.S. House of Representatives

the 112th Congress

4

or Congress : an association usually made up of delegates from constituent organizations

the World Energy Congress

5

or Congress : a single meeting or session of a group

congressional

kən-ˈgre-sh(ə-)nəl 

kän-

adjective

congressionally adverb

congressional

2 of 2

adjective

con·​gres·​sio·​nal kən-ˈgresh-nəl 

kän- -ˈgre-shə-nᵊl

: of or relating to a legislative congress

the Congressional Register of the U.S.

congressional permission to … check names and fingerprints

—R. S. Brown

congressionally adverb

Synonyms of congress

Noun

• parliament
• legislature

Examples of congress in a Sentence

Noun

She was recently elected to the country's congress.

the congresses of Mexico and Chile

The bill easily passed both houses of Congress.

Congress is not currently in session.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Infantino endured another lesson in the limits of his facile brand of diplomacy in Vancouver, when he was outmaneuvered by Jibril Rajoub, the 73-year-old president of the Palestinian Football Association, who had asked to address the congress. —Chris Jones, The Atlantic, 7 June 2026

The modern history of FIFA begins at dawn eleven years ago, when Swiss police officers entered the Baur au Lac, a luxurious nineteenth-century hotel in Zurich, and started arresting the organization’s delegates, who had gathered for an annual congress. —Sam Knight, New Yorker, 1 June 2026

The Chinese government, which once promoted Esperanto heartily, still makes an appearance at each year’s congress. —Katie Thornton, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026

In a special vote Saturday, the state's local congress appointed as interim governor Yeraldine Bonilla Valverde, an ally of Rocha who previously served as the state's secretary of government. —ABC News, 2 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin congressus, from congredi to come together, from com- + gradi to go — more at grade entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing congress

• congress person

Kids Definition

congress

noun

con·​gress ˈkäŋ-grəs 

1

: a formal meeting of delegates for discussion and action

2

: the chief lawmaking body of a nation and especially of a republic that in the U.S. is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives

3

: an association of organizations having a common interest

congressional

kən-ˈgresh-nəl, 

-ən-ᵊl

adjective

congressionally

-ē

adverb

Medical Definition

congress

noun

con·​gress

ˈkäŋ-grəs also -rəs, British usually ˈkäŋ-ˌgres

: coitus

Legal Definition

congress

noun

con·​gress

1

: a formal meeting of delegates

2

a

: the supreme legislative body of a nation and especially a republic

b

capitalized : the legislative branch of the United States government

specifically : the U.S. House of Representatives

3

capitalized

a

: the U.S. legislature as it is composed for an enumerated two-year period

the 101st Congress

b

: a single session of the U.S. legislature see also house of representatives, senate

congressional adjective

congressionally adverb

Etymology

Noun

Latin congressus meeting, encounter, from congredi to approach, meet