Congresspeople

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Individuals who are elected to serve as representatives in a legislative assembly
2. members of the U.S. Congress, including both the House of Representatives and the Senate
3. people engaged in discussions and decision-making for public policy and governance

Etymology: "Congresspeople" is the plural of "congressperson," a gender-neutral term that arose in the 1970s, when American writers and legislators looked for alternatives to "congressman" that did not presume the office was held only by men. The earlier plural "congressmen" was the default for centuries, while "congresswoman" was coined in the 1920s after women first entered the chamber. "Congressperson" followed the same pattern as "chairperson" and "spokesperson," with "person" replacing "man" as the second element. The root word, "congress," comes from Latin "congressus," a noun from "congredi," meaning "to come together, meet, or assemble," formed from "con-" (together) and "gradi" (to step or walk). It entered English in the early 1500s with the sense of a formal meeting or encounter, often between hostile parties, such as a clash of armies. Its political sense, an assembly of delegates, developed in the 1700s, and the American Continental Congress of 1774 gave the word its national association in the United States.

Synonyms: legislators, representatives, senators, lawmakers, politicians