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It’s hard to pinpoint the exact origins of caucus, but some scholars think the word may have developed from an Algonquian term for a group of elders, leaders, or advisers. An early example of the word in use comes from John Adams, who in February of 1763 reported that the Boston “caucus club,” a group of politically active city elders, would soon meet and that, at the meetings, those present would “smoke tobacco till you [could not] see from one end of the garret to the other.” A similarly opaque smoke screen seems to cloud the history of caucus to this day.
Examples of caucus in a Sentence
NBC news, 22 Mar. 2026
The change would allow for young children to be admitted with the approval of the caucus leader.
—Aki Nace, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
Elaine Godfrey, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
Kiley, however, will still caucus with Republicans in the chamber, meaning the switch in his party affiliation may not have a significant impact on vote math in the House.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for caucus
Cite this Entry
“Caucus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caucus. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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caucus
noun
