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 of consortium

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

True Neapolitan pizza adheres to a strict set of rules governed by a consortium called Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana. —Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 14 Mar. 2026

One of the first (and still one of the leading) BCIs was created in the early 2000s by a research consortium called BrainGate. —Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 13 Mar. 2026

Like those projects, The Sherwood will work Our Path Home, a consortium of organizations combatting homelessness, identify and aid future residents. —Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 13 Mar. 2026

As for Chelsea, this is a club who have spent more than a billion on players under the Todd Boehly-Clearlake consortium. —James Horncastle, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026

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