con ‧ gress /ˈkɒŋɡres $ ˈkɑːŋɡrəs/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: congressus 'meeting' , from the past participle of congredi 'to come together' , from com- ( ⇨ COM- ) + gradi 'to go' ]
1 . [uncountable and countable] a formal meeting of representatives of different groups, countries etc, to discuss ideas, make decisions etc:
a congress of the ruling Labor Party
2 . [countable] the group of people chosen or elected to make the laws in some countries
3 . Congress the group of people elected to make laws in the US, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives:
The President has lost the support of Congress.
4 . [singular] used in the names of political parties:
Gandhi’s Congress Party
—congressional /kənˈɡreʃ ə nəl/ adjective [only before noun] :
a congressional committee