congress
gb/kˈɑŋɡɹəs/ us/kˈɑŋɡɹəs/
B1
English
~ 1800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
The U.S. national legislature
The group of people who make laws for the United States, called the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Usage pattern:
[Congress] + [verb]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'Congress' with 'the government' as a whole, but it only refers to the legislative branch in the U.S.
Synonyms
legislature (General term for a lawmaking body, not specific to the U.S.)
Antonyms
executive branch (The branch of government that enforces laws, opposite in function to Congress.)
Collocations
member of Congress
|Congress passes a bill
|Congress meets
|Congress debates a law
Themes
politics
|government
|law
Examples
- Congress passed the new environmental bill last week.
- She was elected to Congress in 2020.
- Congress is debating changes to the healthcare system.
- The President will address Congress tonight.
- Funding for the project must be approved by Congress.
Learner examples
- Congress makes laws for the country.
- He works in Congress.
- Congress meets in Washington, D.C.
- She is a member of Congress.
Noun
B2
event
2
Formal meeting of representatives
A big formal meeting where people talk about important topics.
Usage pattern:
[a/an] + [adjective] + Congress
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'congress' with 'congressman' or 'Congress' in the U.S. context; here it means a meeting, not a government body.
Synonyms
conference (More general and common term; 'congress' can imply greater formality or scale.)
Antonyms
informal gathering (A casual meeting without formal procedures.)
Collocations
international congress
|annual congress
|scientific congress
Themes
business
|politics
|science
|communication
Examples
- The medical congress will be held in Paris this year.
- Delegates from 50 countries attended the international congress.
- The congress concluded with a vote on the final resolution.
Learner examples
- The congress will start next week.
- Many doctors came to the congress.
- The congress was about climate change.
Noun
formal
C1
action
3
Sexual intercourse (formal/medical)
A formal word for sexual intercourse between people or animals.
Common mistake:
Learners may not recognize this meaning because it is rare and formal; it should not be confused with government or meetings.
Synonyms
sexual intercourse (Neutral and clinical; more common in medical or educational contexts.)
Antonyms
abstinence (The practice of not engaging in sexual activity.)
Collocations
sexual congress
Themes
biology
|law
|health
|body
Examples
- The law prohibits sexual congress with minors.
- Historical texts sometimes use 'congress' to mean sexual relations.
- The report referred to 'carnal congress' between the two individuals.
Learner examples
- The book used the word 'congress' for sex.
- 'Sexual congress' is a formal phrase for sex.
- The old law talked about congress between people.
Grammar
Dictionary form
congress
IPA
GB/kˈɑŋɡɹəs/
US/kˈɑŋɡɹəs/
Syllables & stress
con - gress (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (con)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: congress
- Plural: congress, congresses
Word family
Forms
congresses
noun
Core family
congressional
adjective C1
congressperson
noun
Related words
congressman
noun
congresswoman
noun
Advanced or less common
congressionally
adverb
Expressions
act of Congress
1/ˈækt əv kˈɑŋɡɹəs/
fixed phrase
Law passed by U.S. Congress
A law or decision officially made by the United States Congress.
Examples
- It takes an act of Congress to change that regulation.
- The new holiday was created by an act of Congress.
call Congress into session
1/kˈɔl kˈɑŋɡɹəs ˈɪntu sˈɛʃən/
fixed phrase
Require Congress to meet officially
To officially tell members of Congress to come together for work.
Examples
- The President can call Congress into session during emergencies.
- They decided to call Congress into session to address the crisis.
member of Congress
1/mˈɛmbɚ əv kˈɑŋɡɹəs/
fixed phrase
Elected U.S. legislator
A person who has been chosen to work in the Senate or House of Representatives in the United States.
Examples
- She became a member of Congress last year.
- Members of Congress are debating the new bill.