consortium

noun

con·​sor·​tium kən-ˈsȯr-sh(ē-)əm 

-ˈsȯr-tē-əm

plural consortia kən-ˈsȯr-sh(ē-)ə 

-ˈsȯr-tē-ə

also consortiums

1

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

A consortium of researchers decoded the honeybee genome.

2

: association, society

3

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

Synonyms

• organization
• institute
• association
• institution
• society
• chamber
• fraternity
• council
• group
• board

Examples of consortium in a Sentence

A Japanese consortium invested millions in the technology.

a consortium for the prevention of animal cruelty

Recent Examples on the Web

Arc’teryx, founded in Canada and acquired by a consortium led by Chinese sports apparel giant Anta Sports in 2019, issued an apology on both Weibo and on Instagram on Monday. —Chris Lau, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025

According to news reports, Ellison, who is one of the world’s richest men, is now part of a consortium looking to do just that. —John Cassidy, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025

The consortium could also include Oracle chairman Larry Ellison, whose participation has been floated for months, and Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2025

This is not the enterprise of one person, a group of people, a set of researchers, a consortium of universities, or of an individual nation. —Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 19 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, fellowship, from consort-, consors — see consort entry 1

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Legal Definition

consortium

noun

con·​sor·​tium kən-ˈsȯr-shəm; -shē-əm 

plural consortia -shə, -shē-ə  also consortiums

1

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

2

[Medieval Latin, marital partnership, from Latin] : the right of one spouse to the company, affection, and assistance of and to sexual relations with the other

also : the right of a parent or child to the company, affection, and assistance of the other

suing for loss of consortium

compare society

Etymology

Latin, sharing, partnership, from consort-, consors sharer, partner