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.
The joint venture between Sri Lankan company Taprobane Seafoods and the Scardovari consortium churns out a range of crab products, from claw meat to mixed meat and fillet. ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026 The case forces a prime minister to resign Fenech was involved in a consortium that won a controversial contract with the Maltese government to build a power station. Kevin Schembri Orland, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 The consortium will also establish a development roadmap covering the steps required to move from the present conceptual phase toward possible construction and deployment. Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026 Meta Platforms and a consortium of states reached a $17 billion settlement on Wednesday in a child privacy and social media addiction case that's hung over Meta stock since 2023. Tobias Burns, CNBC, 26 Aug. 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 4 Sep. 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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