consortium

con·sor·tium

noun \kən-ˈsȯr-sh(ē-)əm, -ˈsȯr-tē-əm\

plural con·sor·tia\-ˈsȯr-sh(ē-)ə, -ˈsȯr-tē-ə\ also con·sortiums

Definition of CONSORTIUM

1

: an agreement, combination, or group (as of companies) formed to undertake an enterprise beyond the resources of any one member

2

: association, society

3

: the legal right of one spouse to the company, affection, and assistance of and to sexual relations with the other

Examples of CONSORTIUM

1. A Japanese consortium invested millions in the technology.
2. <a consortium for the prevention of animal cruelty>

Origin of CONSORTIUM

Latin, fellowship, from consort-, consors

First Known Use: 1829

Related to CONSORTIUM

Synonyms

board, brotherhood, chamber, club, college, congress, association, council, fellowship, fraternity, guild (also gild), institute, institution, league, order, organization, society, sodality

Related Words

collective, commune, community, cooperative; alliance, bloc, camp, coalition, partnership; body, cadre, group; circle, clan, clique, coterie, junta, junto, klatch (also klatsch), 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

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite