caucus

1 of 2

noun

cau·​cus ˈkȯ-kəs 

: a closed meeting of a group of persons belonging to the same political party or faction usually to select candidates or to decide on policy

a presidential caucus

also : a group of people united to promote an agreed-upon cause

caucus

2 of 2

verb

caucused; caucusing; caucuses

intransitive verb

: to meet in or hold a caucus

The committee caucused to select the most promising candidates.

Did you know?

It’s hard to pinpoint the exact origins of caucus, but some scholars think the word may have developed from an Algonquian term for a group of elders, leaders, or advisers. An early example of the word in use comes from John Adams, who in February of 1763 reported that the Boston “caucus club,” a group of politically active city elders, would soon meet and that, at the meetings, those present would “smoke tobacco till you [could not] see from one end of the garret to the other.” A similarly opaque smoke screen seems to cloud the history of caucus to this day.

Examples of caucus in a Sentence

Noun

the National Women's Political Caucus

Verb

Democrats caucused last week to choose their candidates.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Harris recalled traveling to Springfield, Ill., 17 years ago as a then-underdog and first-term senator from Illinois, Obama, announced his presidential campaign, and knocking on doors for him in snowy Iowa on New Year’s Eve, days before the state’s caucuses. —Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024

The intrigue: If Democrats take back control of the House and she's elected, Jacobs plans to expand her leadership role in the Democratic caucus and run for vice chair. —Andrew Keatts, Axios, 21 Oct. 2024

Verb

Right now, Democrats hold a bare Senate 51-49 majority, which includes four independents who caucus with them. —Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2024

Democrats currently hold a 51-49 Senate advantage, including independent senators who caucus with Democrats. —CBS News, 10 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

1800, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1808, in the meaning defined above

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

caucus

noun

cau·​cus

ˈkȯ-kəs

: a closed meeting of members of a political party or faction usually to select candidates or decide policy

caucus verb

Legal Definition

caucus

noun

cau·​cus ˈkȯ-kəs 

: a closed meeting of a group of persons belonging to the same political party or faction usually to select candidates or to decide on policy

caucus intransitive verb