committee

noun

com·​mit·​tee kə-ˈmi-tē 

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

Synonyms of committee

• panel
• commission
• subcommittee

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

Ducks coach Joel Quenneville took a committee approach to fill Poehling’s minutes. —Eric Stephens, New York Times, 13 May 2026

The former congresswoman’s campaign committee is also deeply in debt, including six figures in unpaid bills owed to other law firms. —Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 12 May 2026

Comer is requesting information about OpenAI’s audit committee, which handles conflicts of interest, and all relevant policies, past and present, for directors and officers at OpenAI. —Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 12 May 2026

The swearing-in of the 16 ministers came after only two days of parliamentary committee hearings, a sign that Magyar, a 45-year-old lawyer who took office on Saturday, is seeking the quickest possible end to the political system Orbán led for 16 years. —Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026

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

Phrases Containing committee

• committee of the whole
• die in committee
• political action committee
• school committee
• standing committee
• steering committee
• vigilance committee

Rhymes for committee

• bitty
• city
• ditty
• gritty
• kitty
• nitty
• pity
• pretty
• smriti
• witty
• catholicity
• ellipticity

Kids Definition

committee

noun

com·​mit·​tee kə-ˈmit-ē 

: 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