What does quorum mean?
A quorum is the smallest number of people needed for a group to conduct business or make a valid decision. It is especially important in committee meetings, parliamentary proceedings, courts, boards, and other formal organizations. Saying that a body has reached a quorum means that enough members are present for business to begin or for votes to count. A meeting without the required quorum may be unable to make legitimate decisions, and proceedings can be delayed, suspended, or declared invalid. The word is formal and institutional rather than everyday, and it is often paired with expressions such as “reach a quorum” and “lack a quorum.” Although quorum originally referred to the minimum attendance required, the term can also refer more broadly to the body of members whose presence fulfills that requirement.
nounThe minimum number of members required for a group to conduct business or make a valid decision. The term is especially common in parliamentary, committee, and organizational meetings.
- The minimum number of members required for a deliberative body to conduct business.
- The group of members whose presence is necessary to validate an organization's proceedings.
"The committee reached a quorum after enough members had arrived to begin the meeting."
"A quorum was present, so the board proceeded to vote on the proposal."
"The election was postponed because the committee did not have a quorum."
The plural is used when referring to the quorum requirements or membership levels of different organizations or meetings.
"The organization has different quorums for its board and general meetings."
Without a quorum, even the most important meeting has no legal or practical authority to make decisions.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does quorum come from?
The word comes from Medieval Latin quorum, meaning “of whom,” a form of the Latin genitive plural of qui, “who.” In legal and institutional usage, it developed the meaning of the number of people whose presence was necessary for valid proceedings. English adopted the term in parliamentary and legal contexts, where it is now used for the minimum attendance or majority required to conduct business.
Related word forms
How quorum is actually used
The term is primarily formal and institutional. It is used most often for meetings, committees, courts, legislatures, and other formal bodies whose rules specify a required minimum attendance.