correspondence committee: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Official, Historical
Quick answer
What does “correspondence committee” mean?
A group officially appointed to manage the sending and receiving of letters and documents for an organization, or a committee that conducts its business primarily via written communication.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A group officially appointed to manage the sending and receiving of letters and documents for an organization, or a committee that conducts its business primarily via written communication.
Historically, a secret or semi-secret political or revolutionary group that communicates with other cells or factions through letters. In modern contexts, it can also refer to a committee that reviews, drafts, or oversees official correspondence within an institution.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. The term is equally rare and formal in both varieties.
Connotations
In British contexts, it may have stronger historical connotations related to colonial administration or political societies. In American contexts, it might be more readily associated with corporate governance or academic review boards.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both varieties. More likely found in historical texts, formal organizational bylaws, or political history.
Grammar
How to Use “correspondence committee” in a Sentence
[The/Our/His] correspondence committee [verb: met, reviewed, drafted]A correspondence committee [verb: was formed, has been appointed, exists]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “correspondence committee” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The board agreed to correspondence committee the matter.
American English
- The board agreed to refer the matter to the correspondence committee.
adverb
British English
- The group worked correspondence-committee style.
American English
- The group worked in a correspondence-committee fashion.
adjective
British English
- She had a correspondence committee role.
American English
- She served in a correspondence-committee capacity.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might refer to a sub-committee handling official external communications or customer mail.
Academic
Used in historical studies, particularly regarding the American Revolution or 19th-century political organizations.
Everyday
Virtually unused in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used in organizational management or governance documents to describe a specific functional committee.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “correspondence committee”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “correspondence committee”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “correspondence committee”
- Using it as a synonym for 'email list' or 'newsletter group'.
- Misspelling as 'correspondance committee'.
- Assuming it's a common modern term.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, formal term primarily found in historical or very specific organizational contexts.
The 'Committees of Correspondence' established in the American colonies in the 1770s, which were pivotal in organizing revolutionary sentiment.
Not typically. It implies a formal, appointed body with a defined responsibility, not just an informal electronic mailing list.
A 'secretariat' is a permanent administrative office or department, often larger. A 'correspondence committee' is usually a specific, often temporary, committee with a focused mandate on communication.
A group officially appointed to manage the sending and receiving of letters and documents for an organization, or a committee that conducts its business primarily via written communication.
Correspondence committee is usually formal, official, historical in register.
Correspondence committee: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒr.ɪˈspɒn.dəns kəˈmɪt.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɔːr.əˈspɑːn.dəns kəˈmɪt̬.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Committees of Correspondence (historical term for American revolutionary groups)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'COMMittee for sending LETTERS' – it's a group (committee) responsible for correspondence (letters).
Conceptual Metaphor
AN ORGANIZATION IS A BODY (the committee is a specialized limb handling communication).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'correspondence committee' MOST likely to be used today?