consortium

noun

con·​sor·​tium kən-ˈsȯr-sh(ē-)əm 

-ˈsȯr-tē-əm

plural consortia kən-ˈsȯr-sh(ē-)ə 

-ˈsȯr-tē-ə

also consortiums

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

: association, society

3

: the legal right of one spouse to the company, affection, and assistance of and to sexual relations with the other

Synonyms of consortium

• organization
• institute
• association
• institution
• society
• chamber
• fraternity
• group
• council
• board

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

Dan Gilbert is the governor of the Cleveland team, but the mortgage billionaire sold a 45% interest in the team to a consortium of investors at a $290 million valuation. —Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 1 May 2026

Or a consortium of nations, including Iran, might manage the waterway and split the profits. —Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 30 Apr. 2026

This ski resort is also part of the Indy Pass, a consortium of independent ski resorts around the world. —Camila Pedrosa april 29, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026

The company didn’t disclose the backers of the fund, but it is said to be in the $50 million range and is made up of a consortium of investors largely from outside the film world. —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 27 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin, fellowship, from consort-, consors — see consort entry 1

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Legal Definition

consortium

noun

con·​sor·​tium kən-ˈsȯr-shəm; -shē-əm 

plural consortia -shə, -shē-ə  also consortiums

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