committee

noun

com·​mit·​tee kə-ˈmi-tē How to pronounce committee (audio)
 sense 2 also  ˌkä-mi-ˈtē
1
a
: a body of persons delegated to consider, investigate, take action on, or report on some matter
an advisory committee
specifically : a group of fellow legislators chosen by a legislative body to give consideration to legislative matters
The bill has been sent back to committee.
b
: a self-constituted organization for the promotion of a common object
the Olympic Committee
the Northwest Wildlife Committee
c
US sports, informal : a group of players on a team who share a particular role in the team's play instead of having an individual player principally assigned to that role
After going with a committee of running backs last season, the Chiefs were hoping Bam Morris would be able to go the full 16 games as the feature runner, something he has never done in his career.Bob Fedas
2
archaic : a person to whom a charge or trust is committed

Examples of committee in a Sentence

We're waiting for recommendations from the advisory committee. The bill has been referred back to committee.
Recent Examples on the Web In the minutes, she is listed as a committee member; members are appointed to the council by the school board, a district spokesperson said. Greg Wehner, Fox News, 28 Nov. 2023 The committee selections will form the basis of the new flag and seal, though the designs may be modified, according to MNHS. Teresa Nowakowski, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Nov. 2023 City officials said last week that no one has been chosen for those interview committees, and that other decisions surrounding the panels — like whether the identities of committee members will be made public — are still being worked out. Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2023 Following the 118-day actors strike, the Screen Actors Guild negotiating committee has released the full contract and terms of their tentative deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2023 Search committees are led by existing faculty members who want to hire their own like-minded former students. WSJ, 23 Nov. 2023 Jordan and two other committee chairmen leading the inquiry, Reps. James Comer (R-KY) and Jason Smith (R-MO), have long had their sights set on roughly a dozen key figures involved with the DOJ's case against Hunter Biden. Ashley Oliver, Washington Examiner, 21 Nov. 2023 In June, committee leaders announced more than 30 subpoenas and dozens of voluntary requests for information. Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 16 Nov. 2023 In Arlington, the pension increase was also key for older workers, said Keith Crowell, shop committee chairman for Local 276, which represents hourly employees there. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 16 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'committee.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English commyttee, from committen "to commit" + -ee -ee entry 1

Note: Stress on the penultimate syllable is perhaps by association with Latin comitia comitia.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of committee was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near committee

Cite this Entry

“Committee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/committee. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

committee

noun
com·​mit·​tee kə-ˈmit-ē How to pronounce committee (audio)
: a group of persons appointed or elected to consider or take action on some matter
a legislative committee

Legal Definition

committee

noun
com·​mit·​tee
1
: a person to whom a charge (as an incompetent) is committed compare conservator, curator, guardian, tutor
2
a
: a body of persons delegated or assigned to consider, investigate, act on, or report on some matter
especially : a group of fellow legislators chosen by a legislative body to consider legislative matters (as drafting bills or conducting hearings)
the Senate judiciary committee
see also conference committee, joint committee
b
: a private organization for the promotion of a common object
political action committees
compare council

More from Merriam-Webster on committee

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