committee

noun

com·​mit·​tee kə-ˈmi-tē How to pronounce committee (audio)
 sense 2 also  ˌkä-mi-ˈtē
1
a
: a body of persons delegated to consider, investigate, take action on, or report on some matter
an advisory committee
specifically : a group of fellow legislators chosen by a legislative body to give consideration to legislative matters
The bill has been sent back to committee.
b
: a self-constituted organization for the promotion of a common object
the Olympic Committee
the Northwest Wildlife Committee
c
US sports, informal : a group of players on a team who share a particular role in the team's play instead of having an individual player principally assigned to that role
After going with a committee of running backs last season, the Chiefs were hoping Bam Morris would be able to go the full 16 games as the feature runner, something he has never done in his career.Bob Fedas
2
archaic : a person to whom a charge or trust is committed

Examples of committee in a Sentence

We're waiting for recommendations from the advisory committee. The bill has been referred back to committee.
Recent Examples on the Web The consternation is over language that was vetted in one chamber but not the other ― a common scenario that plays out in conference committees during these final days. Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 9 Mar. 2024 The bill’s author, Rep. Mike Gallagher, the Republican chairman of a special House committee focused on China, rejected TikTok’s assertion of a ban. Kevin Freking, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, the Senate cleared a separate bill in committee Tuesday that would shield shooters from civil liability if they are found to have acted in line with stand your ground. Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 8 Mar. 2024 This week, a bill that would force ByteDance to divest its interest in TikTok within 165 days or face a ban in the U.S. advanced out of a House committee with unanimous support. Todd Spangler, Variety, 8 Mar. 2024 The bill was introduced with some bipartisan support earlier this week by Wisconsin Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher, who chairs a House select committee on China, and the ranking member of that committee, Illinois Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi. Brian Fung, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024 Both bills have been referred to separate committees. Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 2024 The bill passed the Senate unanimously, but died when the relevant congressional committee failed to hear it before the end of the session. Joel Khalili, WIRED, 6 Mar. 2024 The committee was formed in 2023 and has held numerous hearings focused on human rights, trade, cyber intrusions and other issues central to the rising tensions between the two superpowers. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'committee.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English commyttee, from committen "to commit" + -ee -ee entry 1

Note: Stress on the penultimate syllable is perhaps by association with Latin comitia comitia.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of committee was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near committee

Cite this Entry

“Committee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/committee. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

committee

noun
com·​mit·​tee kə-ˈmit-ē How to pronounce committee (audio)
: a group of persons appointed or elected to consider or take action on some matter
a legislative committee

Legal Definition

committee

noun
com·​mit·​tee
1
: a person to whom a charge (as an incompetent) is committed compare conservator, curator, guardian, tutor
2
a
: a body of persons delegated or assigned to consider, investigate, act on, or report on some matter
especially : a group of fellow legislators chosen by a legislative body to consider legislative matters (as drafting bills or conducting hearings)
the Senate judiciary committee
see also conference committee, joint committee
b
: a private organization for the promotion of a common object
political action committees
compare council

More from Merriam-Webster on committee

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