plenary

play

adjective ple·na·ry \ˈplē-nə-rē, ˈple-\

Definition of plenary

1 : complete in every respect : absolute, unqualified plenary power
2 : fully attended or constituted by all entitled to be present a plenary session

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Examples of plenary in a Sentence

A plenary meeting of the 500 members was held last summer.
plenary sessions of the legislature

Recent Examples of plenary from the Web

The French government maneuvered in 1992 to enshrine the monthly plenary sessions in Strasbourg in European Union treaties, and there can be no change without Paris’s approval.

— stephen castle, New York Times, "How ‘Brexit’ Could End the European Parliament’s ‘Traveling Circus’," 11 July 2017
President Donald Trump sits alone at the beginning of the plenary session of the G20 summit on Friday.

— jennifer hansler, CNN, "The week in politics," 8 July 2017
The ordinance also said ordinance violations would be filed in line with the unsafe building law, according to the text, and the city clerk would accept small claims, plenary cases, collection cases and eviction filings.

— craig lyons, Post-Tribune, "Hammond judge threatens city with lawsuit," 5 July 2017
The Supreme Court on Thursday handed over the accusations to the lower house, where they were read to a plenary session and then sent to the Constitution and Justice Committee.

— simone preissler iglesias, Bloomberg.com, "Empty Chamber Boosts Survival Chances for Brazil's Temer," 29 June 2017
Bellow said the teens have a full schedule this week of plenary sessions, workshops and volunteer work.

— marc lester, Alaska Dispatch News, "Conference draws hundreds of African-American teen leaders to Anchorage," 24 June 2017
Step Four - Plenary Regardless of the outcome of the committee hearing, the report goes to a vote in a plenary session of the lower house.

— bruce douglas, Bloomberg.com, "How to Try a President in Brazil," 14 June 2017
The data was to be presented Sunday as an abstract at the plenary session of the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting in Chicago.

— laurie mcginley, chicagotribune.com, "Much shorter chemo works for many colon cancer patients, study says," 6 June 2017
The data was presented on Sunday during the plenary session of the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting in Chicago.

— paul sisson, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Many colon cancer patients can cut chemo regimen in half, big study finds," 5 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'plenary.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

In the 14th century, the monk Robert of Brunne described a situation in which all the knights of King Arthur's Round Table were present at court by writing, "When Arthures court was plener, and alle were comen, fer and ner. . . ." For 200 years, "plener" (also spelled "plenar") served English well for both senses that we reserve for "plenary" today. But we'd borrowed "plener" from Anglo-French, and, although the French had relied on Latin plenus ("full") for their word, the revival of interest in the Classics during the English Renaissance led scholars to prefer purer Latin origins. In the 15th century, English speakers turned to Late Latin plenarius and came up with "plenary." ("Plenarius" also comes from "plenus," which is the source of our "plenty" and "replenish" as well.)

Origin and Etymology of plenary

Middle English, from Late Latin plenarius, from Latin plenus full — more at full

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First Known Use: 15th century

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Synonym Discussion of plenary

full, complete, plenary, replete mean containing all that is wanted or needed or possible. full implies the presence or inclusion of everything that is wanted or required by something or that can be held, contained, or attained by it. a full schedule complete applies when all that is needed is present. a complete picture of the situation plenary adds to complete the implication of fullness without qualification. given plenary power replete implies being filled to the brim or to satiety. replete with delightful details

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

PLENARY Defined for English Language Learners

plenary

play

adjective

Definition of plenary for English Language Learners

: attended by all the people who have the right to attend
: complete in every way

Law Dictionary

plenary

play

adjective ple·na·ry \ˈplē-nə-rē, ˈple-\

Legal Definition of plenary

: full and complete in every respect: as a : absolute 1 plenary power b : fully attended or constituted a plenary session of the legislature c : including all steps in due order a plenary proceeding — compare summary