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select committee: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

C1
UK/sɪˌlɛkt kəˈmɪti/US/səˌlɛkt kəˈmɪdi/

Formal, Political, Administrative

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Quick answer

What does “select committee” mean?

A small group of members of a legislative body (e.

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Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A small group of members of a legislative body (e.g., parliament or congress) appointed to investigate, examine, or report on a specific matter.

A committee chosen for a particular purpose, often from a larger body, implying a degree of exclusivity, expertise, or focus on a detailed inquiry. Can also be used metaphorically in organizational contexts.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

In the UK, 'select committee' is a standard, formal term for parliamentary investigative committees (e.g., House of Commons Select Committee). In the US, the term is used but is less institutionalized; 'select committee' often refers to a temporary congressional committee (e.g., Select Committee on the Climate Crisis), while 'special committee' or simply 'committee' may be more common.

Connotations

UK: Strong association with parliamentary scrutiny and government accountability. US: Connotes a temporary, focused investigative body, sometimes formed for politically sensitive issues.

Frequency

Higher frequency in UK political and news discourse. In the US, 'committee' or 'subcommittee' is more frequent, with 'select committee' reserved for specific, notable instances.

Grammar

How to Use “select committee” in a Sentence

The [legislative body] appointed a select committee on [topic].The select committee investigated [issue].The select committee published its findings/report.She gave evidence to the select committee.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
parliamentary select committeeappoint a select committeechair of the select committeeselect committee reportselect committee inquiry
medium
appear before a select committeeselect committee hearingselect committee evidenceestablish a select committeeselect committee findings
weak
powerful select committeeinfluential select committeeselect committee memberselect committee investigationselect committee system

Examples

Examples of “select committee” in a Sentence

verb

British English

  • The House will select committee members tomorrow.
  • They moved to select a committee to examine the issue.

American English

  • The Senate voted to select a committee on intelligence.
  • We need to select a committee to oversee the process.

adverb

British English

  • The members were chosen selectly for the committee. (Rare/Unnatural)
  • The committee operates selectly in its inquiries. (Rare/Unnatural)

American English

  • The panel was selectly appointed. (Rare/Unnatural)
  • They worked selectly on the assigned topic. (Rare/Unnatural)

adjective

British English

  • The select committee process is rigorous.
  • She has select committee experience.

American English

  • The select committee hearings were televised.
  • He served in a select committee capacity.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Rare. Might be used metaphorically for a specially appointed project team: 'The board formed a select committee to review the merger proposal.'

Academic

Used in political science, law, and public administration texts to describe governmental structures and processes.

Everyday

Very low frequency. Primarily encountered in news reports about politics.

Technical

Core term in parliamentary procedure, constitutional law, and political journalism.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “select committee”

Strong

parliamentary committee (UK context)inquiry panel

Neutral

special committeeinvestigative committeead hoc committee

Weak

working grouptask forcereview panel

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “select committee”

standing committeeplenary sessionfull assembly

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “select committee”

  • Using 'select committee' to mean any small committee (it implies a formal, investigative role within a legislature).
  • Capitalizing it incorrectly unless it's part of an official title (e.g., 'the Select Committee on Standards' but 'a select committee').

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No, select committees are typically temporary bodies established for a specific investigative or advisory purpose. They are dissolved once their task is complete.

A standing committee is a permanent committee that considers bills and oversees government departments in a broad area. A select committee is a temporary committee appointed for a specific, often investigative, task.

In systems like the UK Parliament, select committees have the power to summon witnesses and require them to give evidence. The exact powers vary by country and legislative body.

Its primary use is political. It can be used metaphorically in other organizations (e.g., a corporate 'select committee'), but this is less common and borrows the term's formal, investigative connotations.

A small group of members of a legislative body (e.

Select committee is usually formal, political, administrative in register.

Select committee: in British English it is pronounced /sɪˌlɛkt kəˈmɪti/, and in American English it is pronounced /səˌlɛkt kəˈmɪdi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “A committee of the whole (contrasting concept)”
  • “Kangaroo court (pejorative, implying a biased inquiry)”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: SELECT a few experts to COMMIT to investigating a TEE (topic).

Conceptual Metaphor

GOVERNMENT IS A MACHINE (with specialized components for specific tasks); SCRUTINY IS AN EXAMINATION.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
After the scandal, Parliament established a to investigate the allegations thoroughly.
Multiple Choice

What is the primary function of a select committee?