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
: a formal meeting of delegates for discussion and usually action on some question
the Congress of Vienna
3
: the supreme legislative body of a nation and especially of a republic
the Congress of the United States
4
: an association usually made up of delegates from constituent organizations
the World Energy Congress
5
: a single meeting or session of a group
congressional
kən-ˈgresh-nəl
adjective kän-
-ˈgre-shə-nᵊl
congressionally adverb
Synonyms
- parliament
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 That’s why a Zionist congress in Basel, Switzerland—whose 125th anniversary was just marked—quickly followed the publication of his pamphlet. 
Meir Soloveichik, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 China's actions come ahead of a key congress of the ruling Communist Party later this year at which President Xi is expected to obtain a third five-year term as party leader. Arkansas Online, 6 Aug. 2022 Both images show Giselle Arellano, who was running for a spot on the ballot as a conservative National Action Party candidate representing migrants in the local congress of Mexico’s Zacatecas state. Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN, 22 Apr. 2022 As a matter of fact, King Sr. was instrumental in bringing the sixth congress of the Baptist World Alliance, in 1939, to Atlanta. Jim Beckerman, USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2022 Security officials have vowed to root out any political opposition ahead of a party congress later in 2022, when Mr. Xi is poised to gain another five-year term as top leader. New York Times, 8 Jan. 2022 The annual congress of the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) is usually a staid affair, but this year’s was rocked by controversy. Coco Fusco, The New York Review of Books, 1 Dec. 2021 Xi is sure to be preoccupied then with the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February and a Communist Party congress in November that is expected to extend his rule. David E. Sanger, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Nov. 2021 Xi is about to enter a particularly sensitive political period: A year from now, at a Communist Party congress, Xi will almost certainly attempt to break with modern precedent and stay in charge for a third five-year term. Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 15 Nov. 2021 See More
Meir Soloveichik, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 China's actions come ahead of a key congress of the ruling Communist Party later this year at which President Xi is expected to obtain a third five-year term as party leader. Arkansas Online, 6 Aug. 2022 Both images show Giselle Arellano, who was running for a spot on the ballot as a conservative National Action Party candidate representing migrants in the local congress of Mexico’s Zacatecas state. Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN, 22 Apr. 2022 As a matter of fact, King Sr. was instrumental in bringing the sixth congress of the Baptist World Alliance, in 1939, to Atlanta. Jim Beckerman, USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2022 Security officials have vowed to root out any political opposition ahead of a party congress later in 2022, when Mr. Xi is poised to gain another five-year term as top leader. New York Times, 8 Jan. 2022 The annual congress of the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) is usually a staid affair, but this year’s was rocked by controversy. Coco Fusco, The New York Review of Books, 1 Dec. 2021 Xi is sure to be preoccupied then with the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February and a Communist Party congress in November that is expected to extend his rule. David E. Sanger, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Nov. 2021 Xi is about to enter a particularly sensitive political period: A year from now, at a Communist Party congress, Xi will almost certainly attempt to break with modern precedent and stay in charge for a third five-year term. Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 15 Nov. 2021 See More 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
Kids Definition
congress
noun
con·gress ˈkäŋ-grəs
1
: the chief lawmaking body of a republic that in the United States is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives
2
: a formal meeting of delegates for discussion and action : conference
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
congress
noun
1
as in parliament
the highest lawmaking body of a political unit the national emergency required a special session of congress Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- parliament
- legislature
- legislative
- council
- assembly
- chamber
- diet
- house
- general assembly
- legislative assembly
2
as in meeting
a coming together of a number of persons for a specified purpose following World War I a great congress of world leaders took place in Paris to plan the postwar world Synonyms & Similar Words
- meeting
- convention
- gathering
- conclave
- council
- assembly
- symposium
- conference
- synod
- convocation
- caucus
- workshop
- seminar
- session
- cabinet
- rally
- summit
- get-together
- demonstration
- huddle
- discussion
- clinic
- discourse
- negotiation
- conversation
- forum
- dialogue
- audience
- roundtable
- interview
- talk
- confab
- parley
- palaver
- dialog
- round-robin
3
as in institute
a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest the Canada Trades and Labor Congress Synonyms & Similar Words
- institute
- organization
- association
- society
- institution
- council
- chamber
- fraternity
- board
- brotherhood
- consortium
- group
- college
- collective
- league
- club
- commune
- guild
- community
- team
- chapter
- cadre
- fellowship
- coalition
- gild
- party
- alliance
- order
- sodality
- bloc
- partnership
- junta
- branch
- cooperative
- confederacy
- camp
- body
- clique
- crew
- cabal
- clan
- squad
- circle
- membership
- local
- coterie
- cartel
- junto
- band
- sorority
- gang
- sisterhood
- syndicate
- set
- conspiracy
- faithful
- fold
- klatch
- camarilla
- klatsch
- outfit
- ring
- combine
- lot
- camorra
4
as in sex
sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis laws that once prohibited congress between people of different races Synonyms & Similar Words
- sex
- relations
- intercourse
- mating
- commerce
- copulation
- sex act
- making love
- coitus
- sexuality
- breeding
- sexual intercourse
- copulating
- coition
- sexual relations
- lovemaking
- getting it on
- coupling
- safe sex
- fornication
- insemination
- carnality
- dalliance
- whoopee
- hanky-panky
- get stuffed
- get technical
- get the ball rolling
- get the best of
- get the better of
- get the bit between one's teeth
- get the bum's rush
- get the chop
- get the creeps
- get the door
- get the facts straight
- get the gate
- get the goods on
- get the hang of
- get the hint
- get the hook
- get the idea
- get the jump on
- get the last laugh
- get the lead out
- get the lowdown on
- get the measure of
- get the measure of someone
- get the memo
- get the message