committee of the whole

noun phrase

: the whole membership of a legislative house sitting as a committee and operating under informal rules

Examples of committee of the whole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Oswego trustees as a committee of the whole recently discussed instituting a $750 administrative fee on drivers who flee or attempt to elude police as a way to improve safety on the roads and recover the costs associated with these types of violations. Linda Girardi, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1689, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of committee of the whole was in 1689

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Committee of the whole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/committee%20of%20the%20whole. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

Legal Definition

committee of the whole

: the whole membership of a legislative house (as the House of Representatives) sitting as a committee and operating under informal parliamentary rules

called also Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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