consortium

[kuhn-sawr-shee-uhm, -tee-]

noun

plural

consortia 

1. a combination of financial institutions, capitalists, etc., for carrying into effect some financial operation requiring large resources of capital.

2. any association, partnership, or union.

3. Law.,  the legal right of partners in a marriage to companionship and conjugal intercourse with each other.

   In a wrongful death action the surviving spouse commonly seeks damages for loss of consortium.

consortium

/ kənˈsɔːtɪəm /

noun

1. an association of financiers, companies, etc, esp one formed for a particular purpose

2. law the right of husband or wife to the company, assistance, and affection of the other

Other Word Forms

• consortial adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of consortium¹

1820–30; < Latin: partnership, equivalent to consort- consort + -ium -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of consortium¹

C19: from Latin: community of goods, partnership; see _consort

Example Sentences

Newcastle had not long been taken over by a Saudi-led consortium in a £305m deal which was opposed by human rights campaigners.

From BBC

It declined to comment on whether it was also looking into the other members of the consortium.

From BBC

The detention camp contract at Fort Bliss, which could eventually hold 5,000 people, was awarded to a consortium of firms led by a company on the military contracting list for over $1 billion.

From Salon

London & Valley Water, a consortium of large financial institutions and investors, has submitted proposals which include writing off about a third of the company's near £20bn debt pile and investing to improve services.

From BBC

UK takeover and merger rules dictate that, having had an expression of interest rejected, Earick's consortium must make an offer by that date or announce he is not intending to do so.

From BBC

Related Words

• association 
• body 
• business 
• circle 
• club 
• company 
• cooperative 
• corporation 
• establishment 
• federation 
• industry 
• institute 
• institution 
• league 
• party 
• society 
• team 
• union