# congress

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈkɑŋɡɹəs/ · frequency rank #1,328

## Definitions
1. A formal gathering or assembly of persons; a conference held to discuss or decide on a specific question.
2. A legislative body of a state, originally the bicameral legislature of the United States of America.
3. An association, especially one consisting of other associations or representatives of interest groups.
4. Coitus: sexual intercourse.
5. A coming together of two or more people; a meeting.
6. A group of baboons; the collective noun for baboons.

## Etymology
From Latin congress(um), the past participle of congredior (“to go, come together”), itself from con- + gradior (“to 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.

## Easily confused with
- **confess** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/confess-vs-congress)
- **congrats** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/congrats-vs-congress)
- **compress** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compress-vs-congress)

## Common misspellings (11)
`ccongress`, `cnogress`, `cognress`, `congerss`, `conggress`, `congres`, `congrress`, `congrses`, `conngress`, `conrgess`, `ocngress`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/congress