English Reference
noun

congressman

n.
US /ˈkɑŋɡɹəsmən/ UK /kˈɒŋɡɹɛsmən/ con·gress·man

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate American English

    a man who is an elected member of a congress, particularly in the U.S. government.

    a male member of a congress; in the United States, the term specifically refers to a member of the House of Representatives rather than the Senate.

    Simple

    The congressman met with local business owners to discuss the new tax laws.

    In context

    The congressman faced tough questions from his constituents during the town hall meeting regarding his recent vote on the environmental bill.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate American EnglishFormal

    the official title used for a man elected to a congress.

    the formal title or designation for a male individual elected to a legislative congress.

    Simple

    Please address the letter to Congressman Smith at his office in Washington.

    In context

    During the formal introduction, the moderator referred to the guest speaker as Congressman Miller, citing his long tenure in the House.

    Teacher's tip

    While 'Congressman' is a common title, 'Representative' is the gender-neutral alternative often preferred in formal or inclusive contexts.

Jolly, a former Republican congressman and lawyer, became an independent, then switched parties last year.

The Guardian· 19 Aug 2026

If Ocasio-Cortez runs, she might face challenges from fellow progressive Congressman Ro Khanna of California along with heavyweights including Harris, Pete Buttigieg, Gavin Newsom and Jon Ossoff.

The Guardian· 15 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated