lack of quorum

USAGE SUMMARY

"lack of quorum" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to mean that not enough people have gathered in order to form a valid meeting. For example: "The meeting was unable to start due to a lack of quorum."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

The lack of quorum also meant that TNK-BP has not yet paid dividends for the first quarter, depriving BP of a significant source of income.

The New York Times

Mr. Polovets said Mr. Fridman had resigned as chief executive because the lack of quorum on the board was disrupting the company's operations by preventing him from making decisions that required board approval.

The New York Times

The coalition called the lack of quorum a "lost opportunity to better inform the public and facilitate Congressional action".

TechCrunch

On December 9, 2016, the senate public hearing on the GEO Bill was canceled for the lack of quorum.

Huffington Post

An iteration of the bill passed in 2013 but was annulled by a constitutional court in 2014 due to a lack of quorum when the law was passed.

Vice

The law was eventually nullified in court because there were not enough legislators present at the parliament session that passed it — a technicality also known as a lack of quorum.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

But according to Marvin Markus, the board's chairman, the lack of a quorum is not a major concern.

The New York Times

About a fifth of the debates during the last session had to be cancelled for lack of a quorum.

The Economist

The following day, the Triple A moved to Toronto, the UN was closed for lack of a quorum, & PAL was formed in Houston.

The New Yorker

All in all, the Court got off to a false start; it had to adjourn for lack of a quorum "until to Morrow".

The New Yorker

Moments later, Mr. Gregg announced that the meeting, called a "mark up" in Senate parlance, would be postponed for lack of a quorum.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lack of quorum" when you specifically need to indicate that a meeting or vote cannot proceed because the minimum required number of members is not present. Ensure the context clearly indicates the relevant group or body affected by the lack of quorum.

Common error

Avoid using "lack of quorum" when you simply mean that people are absent. This phrase refers specifically to the absence of a required minimum number. For example, don't say "The project failed due to a lack of quorum", unless the number of people available directly impacted the project's ability to proceed according to its rules or bylaws.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lack of quorum" functions as a noun phrase that describes a situation where a meeting, committee, or other deliberative body does not have the minimum number of members present to conduct official business. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lack of quorum" is a grammatically correct and understandable term used to describe the absence of the minimum number of members required for a meeting or committee to conduct official business. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage across various sources, including News & Media and Science. While relatively rare in everyday conversation, it's important to use it when the required minimum is specifically unmet, and not just to describe general absence. Alternatives like "insufficient attendance" or "quorum not met" can be used, but "lack of quorum" specifically implies a legal or procedural impediment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absence of a quorum

Replaces "lack" with "absence" but retains the same core meaning.

quorum not met

A more concise way to express that the required number wasn't reached.

insufficient attendance

Focuses on the fact that not enough people are present.

short of quorum

Indicates that the group is missing members needed for official business.

quorum deficiency

Uses a more formal term, "deficiency", to indicate the lack of the required number.

not enough members present

A plain language explanation of the concept.

failure to achieve quorum

Emphasizes the failure or inability to reach the necessary attendance.

under attendance

Highlights the fact that attendance is below required thresholds.

below the required threshold

Focuses on the fact that attendance is below the necessary minimum.

inadequate presence

Focuses on the insufficient number of members being present.

FAQs

How does a "lack of quorum" affect a meeting?

A "lack of quorum" typically prevents a meeting from conducting official business, such as voting on proposals or making binding decisions. The meeting may be adjourned or postponed until a quorum is present.

What are some alternative phrases for "lack of quorum"?

You can use alternatives such as "insufficient attendance", "absence of a quorum", or "quorum not met" depending on the context.

What does it mean when a committee "lacks a quorum"?

It means that not enough members of the committee are present to conduct official business, rendering any votes or decisions invalid.

Is "lack of quorum" the same as "lack of participation"?

No. "Lack of quorum" refers specifically to the absence of the minimum required number of members. "Lack of participation" refers to low engagement or involvement from members, regardless of whether a quorum is present.