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

• association
• board
• brotherhood
• chamber
• club
• college
• congress
• council
• fellowship
• fraternity
• guild
• gild
• institute
• institution
• league
• order
• organization
• society
• sodality

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

That would eliminate other parties like a consortium led by Steve Paul, which was interested in acquiring National Amusements. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 11 July 2024

This comes after Shari Redstone agreed July 7 to sell her majority stake in Paramount Global to a consortium led by Skydance, the production company helmed by David Ellison, and Gerry Cardinale’s RedBird Capital. —Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 July 2024

Lauren Nelson, project manager with Hamilton’s economic development department who also serves on behalf of the consortium, helped to facilitate the partnership. —Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 8 July 2024

The consortium, which includes Bain Capital senior advisor Steve Pagliuca and Abbey Group founding partner Bob Epstein, is named Banner 17 for their desire to win the Celtics’ 17th title. —Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 1 July 2024

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