What does "congress" mean?
A coming together of two or more people; a meeting.
Congress
/ˈkɑŋɡɹəs/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A coming together of two or more people; a meeting.
- Grammar: congress is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: act of love, adultery, advisory body, answer.
- Useful contrasts: anarchy, dictatorship, dispersal.
- Usage evidence: The medical congress was held in Kyoto.
How to use "congress"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "congress" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "congress" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "congress" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "congress" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "congress" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "act of love" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "congress", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A coming together of two or more people; a meeting. archaic, countable, uncountable
"After some little repast, he went to see Democritus […]. The multitude stood gazing round about to see the congress."
- 2 A two-year session of the Congress, commencing after a Federal election and ending before the next one. US
"Two regular sessions of our federal legislative body are called a Congress, and Congresses have been numbered consecutively since the first one met in 1789. The first two sessions were called the first Congress; […]"
- 3 the social act of assembling for some common purpose wordnet
- 4 A formal gathering or assembly; a conference held to discuss or decide on a specific question. countable, uncountable
- 5 the legislature of the United States government wordnet
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 A legislative body of a state, originally the bicameral legislature of the United States of America. capitalized, countable, often, uncountable
- 7 a meeting of elected or appointed representatives wordnet
- 8 An association, especially one consisting of other associations or representatives of interest groups. countable, uncountable
"the National Congress of American Indians"
- 9 a national legislative assembly wordnet
- 10 Coitus; sexual intercourse. countable, dated, uncountable
"Welsh ponies, I learn from a man who has had much experience with these animals, habitually produce erections and emissions in their stalls; they do not bring their hind quarters up during this process, and they close their eyes, which does not take place when they have congress with mares."
- 11 A group of baboons; the collective noun for baboons. collective, countable
"[…] the council hall stank like a congress of baboons."
Verb
- 1 To assemble together. intransitive
- 2 To meet in a congress.
Proper Noun
- 1 The two legislative bodies of the United States: the House of Representatives and the Senate. US
- 2 A census-designated place in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States.
- 3 The legislature of the Philippines. Philippine
- 4 A village in Wayne County, Ohio, United States.
- 5 The legislature of the Philippines.; The House of Representatives of the Philippines. Philippine
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 A hamlet in the Rural Municipality of Stonehenge, No. 73, Saskatchewan, Canada.
- 7 Clipping of Indian National Congress India, abbreviation, alt-of, clipping
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The medical congress was held in Kyoto."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "congress"?
Common synonyms include: act of love, adultery, advisory body, answer, aphrodisia, approach.
How do you use "congress" in a sentence?
The medical congress was held in Kyoto.
How do you pronounce "congress"?
Pronounced /ˈkɑŋɡɹəs/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Latin congress(um), the past participle of congredior (“I go, come together”), itself from con- + gradior (“I go, step”). The verb is from the noun. Compare typologically coven, convent, convention, several steps omitting from con- + veniō, Russian сход (sxod), схо́дка (sxódka), akin to сходи́ться (sxodítʹsja), ходи́ть (xodítʹ). Also compare Czech sjezd, Russian съезд (sʺjezd), akin to съезжа́ться (sʺjezžátʹsja), е́здить (jézditʹ). Also compare conference.
Etymology 2
From congress.