Quorum definition
The minimal number of officers and members of a committee or organization, usually a majority, who must be present for valid transaction of business.
noun
The minimum number of members required to be present at an assembly or meeting before it can validly proceed to transact business.
noun
The minimal density of bacterial cells that results in altered gene expression in a population of bacteria.
noun
The definition of a quorum is the minimum number of people needed at a meeting to conduct business.
An example of a quorum is having four of the seven committee members present in order to pass a motion at a committee meeting.
noun
The number of persons who must be present in a group for official action to be taken, e.g., a “quorum” of the board of directors must be present in order to take a vote; the number of individuals constituting a quorum may vary from body to body.
noun
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The smallest number of people that must vote (either in person or by proxy) in shareholder meetings, boards of directors meetings, legislative meetings, or other committee and organization meetings. If a quorum isn’t reached, then the results of the voting are not valid.
(historical) The number of justices of the peace required to be present at sessions of English courts.
noun
A select group.
noun
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The minimal density of bacterial cells that results in altered gene expression in a population of bacteria.
noun
A select group or company.
noun
Origin of quorum
- Middle English quorum of justices of the peace from Latin quōrum of whom (from the wording of a commission naming certain persons as members of a body) genitive pl. of quī who kwo- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- From Latin quōrum, genitive plural form of quÄ« (“who, which"), used as standard wording in written commissions.
From Wiktionary