Dictionary

caucus en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈkɔkəs/ without the cot–caught merger
• (US) audio cot-caught
• /ˈkɑkəs/ (cot-caught-merger)
• /ˈkɔːkəs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈkoːkəs/ (Australia, British, New-Zealand, Southern, Standard)
• /ˈkɔkəs/ (Scotland)

Etymology

Unknown. Often claimed to be from an Algonquian language; transcribed words such as cawaassough and caucauasu meaning "counselor, elder, adviser" appear in early texts. A popular folk etymology attested in Great Leaders and National Issues of 1896 stated: "In the early part of the eighteenth century a number of caulkers connected with the shipping business in the North End of Boston held a meeting for consultation. That meeting was the germ of the political caucuses which have formed so prominent a feature of our government ever since its organization." American Heritage Dictionary states the term is taken from the Caucus Club of Boston in the 1760s, possibly from Medieval Latin caucus (“drinking vessel”).

Meanings

1. (Canada, Israel, Pakistan, South-Africa, US, Zimbabwe, archaic, in UK, not used in the European Union) A usually preliminary meeting of party members to nominate candidates for public office or delegates to be sent to a nominating convention, or to confer regarding policy.
   • He conferred with Mr. Warren of Plymouth upon the necessity of giving into spirited measures, and then said, "Do you keep the committee in play, and I will go and make a caucus against the evening; and do you meet me." 1788, William Gordon, The History of the Rise, Progress, and Establishment, of the Independence of the United States of America:
2. (Canada, Israel, Pakistan, South-Africa, US, Zimbabwe, archaic, in UK, not used in the European Union) A grouping of all the members of a legislature from the same party.
3. (Canada, Israel, Pakistan, South-Africa, US, Zimbabwe, archaic, in UK, not used in the European Union) A political interest group by members of a legislative body.

Forms

Deriveds

firehouse caucus · precaucus · caucusgoer · caucus-goer · caucusdom · postcaucus · caucus race

Synonyms

parliamentary group

Translations (41)

ru гру́ппа интере́сов (a legislative interest group) · de Wahlausschuss (a meeting of party members) · pl frakcja (a grouping of all members of a legislature representing the same party) · cmn 黨團會議 /党团会议 (a meeting of party members) · nl verkiezingsbijeenkomst (a meeting of party members) · hu jelölőgyűlés (a meeting of party members) · ru фра́кция (a grouping of all members of a legislature representing the same party) · ja 議連 (a legislative interest group) · ja コーカス (a meeting of party members) · nl fractie (a grouping of all members of a legislature representing the same party) · id kaukus (a meeting of party members) · ja 党員集会 (a meeting of party members) · de Parlamentsgruppierung (a grouping of all members of a legislature representing the same party) · de Fraktion (a grouping of all members of a legislature representing the same party) · ru партсобра́ние (a meeting of party members) · da folketingsgruppe (a grouping of all members of a legislature representing the same party) · pt bancada (a legislative interest group) · ru парти́йное собра́ние (a meeting of party members) · fr groupe parlementaire (a grouping of all members of a legislature representing the same party) · es bancada (a meeting of party members) · he סיעה (a grouping of all members of a legislature representing the same party) · da parlamentsgruppe (a grouping of all members of a legislature representing the same party) · ru группиро́вка (a grouping of all members of a legislature representing the same party) · ko 당원집회 (a meeting of party members) · pl stronnictwo (a grouping of all members of a legislature representing the same party) · fr caucus (a meeting of party members) · ru ко́кус (a meeting of party members) · cs parlamentní klub (a grouping of all members of a legislature representing the same party) · he כנס (a meeting of party members) · ru лобби́стская гру́ппа (a legislative interest group) · no nominasjonsmøte (a meeting of party members) · hu frakció (a grouping of all members of a legislature representing the same party) · da opstillingsmøde (a meeting of party members) · ko 코커스 (a meeting of party members) · fr caucus (a grouping of all members of a legislature representing the same party) · pt reunião/convenção (de partido) (a meeting of party members) · hu képviselőcsoport (a grouping of all members of a legislature representing the same party) · pl koteria (a legislative interest group) · hu küldöttválasztó taggyűlés (a meeting of party members) · he כינוס (a meeting of party members) · pt bancada (a grouping of all members of a legislature representing the same party)

caucus en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈkɔkəs/ without the cot–caught merger
• (US) audio cot-caught
• /ˈkɑkəs/ (cot-caught-merger)
• /ˈkɔːkəs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈkoːkəs/ (Australia, British, New-Zealand, Southern, Standard)
• /ˈkɔkəs/ (Scotland)

Etymology

Unknown. Often claimed to be from an Algonquian language; transcribed words such as cawaassough and caucauasu meaning "counselor, elder, adviser" appear in early texts. A popular folk etymology attested in Great Leaders and National Issues of 1896 stated: "In the early part of the eighteenth century a number of caulkers connected with the shipping business in the North End of Boston held a meeting for consultation. That meeting was the germ of the political caucuses which have formed so prominent a feature of our government ever since its organization." American Heritage Dictionary states the term is taken from the Caucus Club of Boston in the 1760s, possibly from Medieval Latin caucus (“drinking vessel”).

Meanings

1. (Canada, Israel, Pakistan, South-Africa, US, Zimbabwe, archaic, in UK, not used in the European Union) To meet and participate in a caucus.
   • Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Doug Jones of Alabama and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona voted with Republicans against the measure, as did Sen. Angus King of Maine, an Independent who caucuses with the Democrats. 2019 March 26, Rebecca Shabad, Dartunorro Clark, “Senate fails to advance Green New Deal as Democrats protest McConnell 'sham vote'”, in NBC news:
   • Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut said yesterday that he will caucus with Senate Democrats in the new Congress, but he would not rule out switching to the Republican caucus if he starts to feel uncomfortable among Democrats. 2006 November 13, “Lieberman won't rule out GOP caucusing”, in Boston Globe, sourced from Associated Press, archived from the original on 28 Nov 2006:
   • The diehard Republicans of Kansas caucused today and delivered a big victory for Mike Huckabee, McCain's remaining serious challenger. 2008 February 9, Richard Adams, “Huckabee wins Kansas!”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
   • Guardian Australia understands the Liberal states have caucused, and they want the newly elected Morrison government to reboot the Neg, or something very like it. 2019 June 21, Katharine Murphy, “Australia's energy future: the real power is not where you’d think”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
2. (Canada, Israel, Pakistan, South-Africa, US, Zimbabwe, archaic, broadly, in UK, informal, intransitive, not used in the European Union) To confer.
   • The protesters caucused nearby to discuss demands. 1980 December 27, John Zeh, “Cincy Activists Protest Store's Violent Sex Wares”, in Gay Community News, volume 8, number 23, page 6:
3. (Canada, Israel, Pakistan, South-Africa, US, Zimbabwe, archaic, in UK, not used in the European Union, transitive) To bring into or treat in a caucus.
   • Although journalists from the private media were barred from entering the hall, different districts caucused the meeting, discussing the voting centres and other logistics. 2017 May 6, Tatenda Chitagu, “Zanu PF to stage one-man chairmanship polls”, in NewsDay Zimbabwe, archived from the original on 19 Dec 2020:

Forms