session

American  

[sesh-uhn] / ˈsɛʃ ən /

noun

sessions plural

1. the sitting together of a court, council, legislature, or the like, for conference or the transaction of business.

   Congress is now in session.

2. a single continuous sitting, or period of sitting, of persons so assembled.

3. a continuous series of sittings or meetings of a court, legislature, or the like.

4. the period or term during which such a series is held.

5. sessions, (in English law) the sittings or a sitting of justices in court, usually to deal with minor offenses, grant licenses, etc.

6. a single continuous course or period of lessons, study, etc., in the work of a day at school.

   Through a mixture of both lectures and lab sessions, you will develop a broad engineering skill base.

7. a portion of the year into which instruction is organized at a college or other educational institution.

   She’s enrolled in a six-week summer session.

8. the governing body of a local Presbyterian church, composed of the pastor who moderates and the elders.

9. a period of time during which a group of persons meets to pursue a particular activity.

   It was the last show before their recording sessions this week where they will produce their first album.

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session British  

/ ˈsɛʃən /

noun

1. the meeting of a court, legislature, judicial body, etc, for the execution of its function or the transaction of business

2. a single continuous meeting of such a body

3. a series or period of such meetings

4. education

   1. the time during which classes are held

   2. a school or university term or year

5. Presbyterian Church the judicial and administrative body presiding over a local congregation and consisting of the minister and elders

6. a meeting of a group of musicians to record in a studio

7. a meeting of a group of people to pursue an activity

8. any period devoted to an activity

9. See Court of Session

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session Idioms  

1. see bull session.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• presession
  noun
• sessionally
  adverb
• sessional
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• sessions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of session

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English sessio(u)n, cessio(u)n, from Anglo-French, Middle French session, from Latin sessiōn- (stem of sessiō ) “sitting, bench, law-court sitting,” equivalent to sess(us) (past participle of sedēre to sit ¹ ) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

A session is a specific block of time dedicated to something. Court may be in session, or school may be in session, or you just might find yourself enjoying a massage therapy session. The noun session also means a meeting of a board or committee to conduct business. The school board, for example, may hold a special session to discuss budget issues. Session can also refer to a gathering of spiritualists at a séance or a meeting with a psychic. You might have a session with a medium who claims she's delivering a message to you from your great-great-grandmother.

Example Sentences

The findings were presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session & Expo and published at the same time in JAMA.

From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026

The recommendations were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and Circulation and were presented March 28 at the American College of Cardiology's 75th Annual Scientific Session in New Orleans.

From Science Daily • Mar. 29, 2026

Any of the Council’s 47 member states can force a vote on Ms. Jallad’s appointment before the Council’s 61st Session ends Monday.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

His aunt Sharon MacFadyen told the Court of Session in Edinburgh that she did not have words for how horrific the family's experience had been.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026

I liked Brinker in spite of his Winter Session efficiency; almost everyone liked Brinker.

From "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles

Related Words

• conference
• discussion
• hearing
• period
• term