A committee is a group of people chosen to discuss, plan, or manage a particular task or issue. They usually meet to make recommendations or decisions on behalf of a larger group.
From *commit* + *-ee*, originally meaning “a person to whom something is entrusted.” It shifted from an individual trustee to a body of people entrusted with a matter.
A committee is literally a group of ‘entrusted ones’—people the larger group has handed power or responsibility to. That’s why bad committee decisions can feel especially frustrating: the trust was there, but the results weren’t.
Committees in politics, academia, and business were historically male-dominated, with women often excluded or relegated to 'supporting' roles. Even when women served on committees, their contributions were frequently minimized.
Use 'committee' neutrally and avoid assuming its members are male; when describing composition, be accurate about gender diversity.
Women have served on and led key committees in governance, science, and civil society, often pushing institutions toward greater inclusion.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.