congress

noun

con·​gress ˈkäŋ-grəs 

also -rəs

British usually ˈkäŋ-ˌgres

1

a

: the act or action of coming together and meeting

b

: coitus

2

or Congress : a formal meeting of delegates for discussion and usually action on some question

the Congress of Vienna

3

or Congress

a

: the supreme legislative body of a nation and especially of a republic

b

: the legislative branch of the U.S. government

specifically : a session of the U.S. House of Representatives

the 112th Congress

4

or Congress : an association usually made up of delegates from constituent organizations

the World Energy Congress

5

or Congress : a single meeting or session of a group

congressional

kən-ˈgre-sh(ə-)nəl 

kän-

adjective

congressionally adverb

Synonyms of congress

• parliament
• legislature

Examples of congress in a Sentence

She was recently elected to the country's congress.

the congresses of Mexico and Chile

The bill easily passed both houses of Congress.

Congress is not currently in session.

Recent Examples on the Web

At the congress, Lam was reelected as general secretary, the most powerful position in the political system. —ABC News, 15 Mar. 2026

Before the World Cup, Iranian soccer officials are due to attend FIFA’s annual congress on April 30 in Vancouver. —Graham Dunbar, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026

The Iranian federation was unable to attend meetings in Atlanta last week to help teams prepare for the 48-nation tournament but is due to attend FIFA's annual congress in Canada next month. —Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 13 Mar. 2026

Among them is Luis Albán who is campaigning to keep his seat in Colombia's congress. —John Otis, NPR, 6 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin congressus, from congredi to come together, from com- + gradi to go — more at grade entry 1

First Known Use

1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing congress

• congress person

Kids Definition

congress

noun

con·​gress ˈkäŋ-grəs 

1

: a formal meeting of delegates for discussion and action

2

: the chief lawmaking body of a nation and especially of a republic that in the U.S. is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives

3

: an association of organizations having a common interest

congressional

kən-ˈgresh-nəl, 

-ən-ᵊl

adjective

congressionally

-ē

adverb

Medical Definition

congress

noun

con·​gress

ˈkäŋ-grəs also -rəs, British usually ˈkäŋ-ˌgres

: coitus

Legal Definition

congress

noun

con·​gress

1

: a formal meeting of delegates

2

a

: the supreme legislative body of a nation and especially a republic

b

capitalized : the legislative branch of the United States government

specifically : the U.S. House of Representatives

3

capitalized

a

: the U.S. legislature as it is composed for an enumerated two-year period

the 101st Congress

b

: a single session of the U.S. legislature see also house of representatives, senate

congressional adjective

congressionally adverb

Etymology

Latin congressus meeting, encounter, from congredi to approach, meet