the legislature of the United States government
"The new bill passed by Congress will take effect next month."
a meeting of elected or appointed representatives
"The new environmental bill was debated during the annual congress of state governors."
a national legislative assembly
"The new bill will now face scrutiny by congress before it can become law."
the social act of assembling for some common purpose
"his meeting with the salesmen was the high point of his day"
"the lovers met discreetly for the purposes of sexual congress"
A coming together of two or more people; a meeting.
"The local community held a small congress to discuss the new park plans."
In plain English: Congress is the group of elected representatives who make laws for the United States government.
"Members from all fifty states gathered in congress to pass new laws."
Usage: In everyday usage, "congress" refers specifically to the legislative body of the United States government or similar national parliaments, rather than a general gathering of people. Use this term only when discussing formal political assemblies, not casual meetings.
To assemble together.
"After weeks of debate, all the delegates finally assembled together in congress to cast their votes."
In plain English: To congress is to meet secretly with someone else to plan something together.
"The two sides finally decided to congress and settle their differences over dinner."
Usage: The verb form of congress means to meet or gather with others in a formal assembly, though it is rarely used in modern conversation and often replaced by synonyms like convene or assemble. Because the word sounds similar to nouns like "concede" or "connect," ensure you are specifically describing a group coming together for official business before using it.
The two legislative bodies of the United States: the House of Representatives and the Senate.
"The new climate bill passed by congress after weeks of intense debate between the house and senate."
The word congress comes from the Latin verb meaning "to go or come together." It entered English with this original sense of gathering, eventually becoming the name for a formal meeting or legislative body.