Word
congressmen
Phoneticscon·gress·men
US/ˈkɑŋɡɹəsmɪn/
UK/kˈɒŋɡɹɪsmˌɛn/
Definition
n. men who have been elected to a congress to make laws for their country.
n. Male members of a national legislative body, most commonly used in reference to the United States House of Representatives.
Examples
“The congressmen voted on the new tax bill today.”
“Several congressmen met with local business owners to discuss how the new trade laws would affect the city's economy.”
“The delegation of congressmen spent the afternoon debating the proposed amendments, eventually reaching a compromise that satisfied both parties before the final vote was called.”
Examples
simple
“The congressmen voted on the new tax bill today.”
contextual
“Several congressmen met with local business owners to discuss how the new trade laws would affect the city's economy.”
complex
“The delegation of congressmen spent the afternoon debating the proposed amendments, eventually reaching a compromise that satisfied both parties before the final vote was called.”
Usage
While technically plural, modern speakers often prefer 'members of Congress' or 'representatives' to be gender-neutral.
Teaching tip
In modern American English, 'congressmen' is increasingly replaced by 'members of Congress' unless the group is exclusively male.
Pitfall
The congressmen and congresswomen are all members of the Senate.
The congressmen and congresswomen are all members of the House of Representatives.
In the US, 'congressman' usually refers specifically to a member of the House, not the Senate.
Synonyms
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/congressmen