quorum
C1Formal, Technical, Legal
Definition
Meaning
The minimum number of members of a group that must be present for its proceedings to be valid.
A select group or a fixed number of individuals required to be present for a meeting or assembly to conduct official business.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is inherently quantitative and procedural. It implies a threshold, not just any number of people. It is almost exclusively used in the context of formal organizations, committees, or governing bodies.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The concept is identical in both legal and parliamentary contexts.
Connotations
Formality, legality, procedural correctness.
Frequency
Equally common in formal British and American institutional language.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + a/the quorum (e.g., 'We have a quorum.')[adjective] + quorum (e.g., 'a valid quorum')quorum + [prepositional phrase] (e.g., 'a quorum of members')Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Call the question (when a quorum is present)”
- “In quorum”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in shareholder meetings and board of directors' sessions to validate decisions.
Academic
Used in faculty senate meetings or academic committee procedures.
Everyday
Rarely used; might appear in contexts like club meetings or homeowners' associations.
Technical
Central to parliamentary procedure, corporate law, and organisational bylaws.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The committee failed to quorate, so the meeting was adjourned.
American English
- The board did not quorum, therefore no action could be taken.
adjective
British English
- The inquorate meeting could not pass the resolution.
American English
- A non-quorum assembly has no legal standing.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The club meeting was cancelled because not enough people came.
- We cannot vote today because we do not have a quorum.
- According to the bylaws, a quorum of fifteen members must be present for any financial decision to be valid.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'We need a QUORUM to QUORUM-ently (currently) do business.' Or: 'A QUORUM is a QUORder (order) of members required.'
Conceptual Metaphor
A THRESHOLD (that must be crossed for action to be possible). A GATEKEEPER (for official proceedings).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'квор' (non-existent). The correct term is 'кворум'. Do not confuse with 'большинство' (majority) – a quorum is about presence, not the vote outcome.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean 'a majority' (e.g., 'We have a quorum of votes' is incorrect). Using it as a verb (e.g., 'We need to quorum the meeting').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a quorum?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A quorum is the minimum number of members required to be *present* to conduct business. A majority (simple or super) refers to the number of *votes* required to pass a motion among those present.
Yes, if the governing rules (e.g., bylaws) specifically define the quorum as one. This is common in some corporate structures for committees of one.
Typically, no further substantive business can be conducted. The meeting must usually be adjourned or only procedural actions (like setting a date for the next meeting) can be taken.
Very rarely. Its use is almost entirely confined to the procedural rules of formal organizations, legislatures, and committees. It is not used in casual social gatherings.