Definition

Noun: A group of people formally organized to greet and assist new residents or visitors upon their arrival in a community or organization.

Usage

A "welcoming committee" is a specific group tasked with the official duty of greeting newcomers. Its function is to provide a friendly first impression, offer practical information, and help integrate new individuals into the group.

Examples

• The neighborhood welcoming committee brought a basket of fruit and a local guidebook to the new family.
• As part of the university's welcoming committee, her job was to meet international students at the airport.
• The company's welcoming committee organizes a lunch for all new hires during their first week.

Advanced Usage

• "To be on the welcoming committee": To be a member of this group.
  • She volunteered to be on the welcoming committee for the conference.
• The concept can be extended metaphorically to describe any person or thing that creates an inviting atmosphere.
  • The warm fireplace was a welcoming committee for the cold, tired hikers.

Variants and Related Words

• Greeting party (n): A similar group assembled to welcome someone, often for a specific, one-time event.
• Host committee (n): A group responsible for receiving and attending to guests, often for a large event or conference.
• Welcome wagon (n, often capitalized as a trademark): Informally used to refer to a welcoming committee, especially one that visits new homes.

Synonyms

• Reception committee
• Greeting group

Related Phrases

• To give someone a warm welcome: To greet someone in a very friendly and enthusiastic manner.
  • The town gave the returning athletes a warm welcome.
• To roll out the red carpet: To give someone a very special and luxurious welcome.
  • The hotel rolled out the red carpet for the celebrity guests.

Noun

1. a committee to welcome new residents to a community