consortium

noun

plural consortia kən-ˈsȯr-sh(ē-)ə How to pronounce consortium (audio)
-ˈsȯr-tē-ə
also consortiums
Synonyms of consortium
1
: an agreement, combination, or group (as of companies) formed to undertake an enterprise beyond the resources of any one member
A consortium of researchers decoded the honeybee genome.
2
3
: the legal right of one spouse to the company, affection, and assistance of and to sexual relations with the other

Examples of consortium in a Sentence

A Japanese consortium invested millions in the technology. a consortium for the prevention of animal cruelty
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In April this year, a European consortium led by Belgian telecommunications company Proximus won one of four contracts together worth up to €180 million under the Commission’s sovereign cloud procurement programme. — Margot Edelman, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026 About a year and a half ago, the family office bought a Kohl's near Milwaukee with an investor consortium, according to Haugen. — Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026 The Leading Hotels of the World is an international consortium of more than 450 independent luxury hotels that include Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento, Italy, and The Reverie Saigon. — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026 Asharq Bloomberg previously reported that RedBird was leading a consortium in talks to buy a stake in the club. — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for consortium

Word History

Etymology

Latin, fellowship, from consort-, consors — see consort entry 1

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of consortium was in 1829

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Consortium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consortium. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Legal Definition

1
: an agreement, combination, or group (as of companies) formed to undertake an enterprise beyond the resources of any one member
2
[Medieval Latin, marital partnership, from Latin] : the right of one spouse to the company, affection, and assistance of and to sexual relations with the other
also : the right of a parent or child to the company, affection, and assistance of the other
suing for loss of consortium
compare society
Etymology

Latin, sharing, partnership, from consort-, consors sharer, partner

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