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Definition of "plenary" []

  • Complete in all respects; unlimited or full: a diplomat with plenary powers. (adjective)
  • Fully attended by all qualified members: a plenary session of the council. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "plenary" in a sentence
  • "Later usage has restricted the term plenary to those councils which are presided over by a delegate of the Apostolic See, who has received special power for that purpose, and which are attended by all the metropolitans and bishops of some commonwealth, empire, or kingdom, or by their duly accredited representatives."
  • "` ` This is not what you call a plenary meeting, but both sides are anxious to sign the deal as soon as possible, '' Clark said."
  • "Speeches in plenary - this is potentially a bit misleading since the real arguments happen behind the scenes in the committee meetings, which although public events are not recorded with the same degree of completeness as the plenary sessions."