session

American  

[sesh-uhn] / ˈsɛʃ ən /

noun

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.

---

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

---

session Idioms  

1. see bull session.

---

Other Word Forms

• presession noun
• sessional adjective
• sessionally adverb

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

Northern Ireland's former world number one Mark Allen is 3-5 behind against China's Zhang Anda, with their second session to come on Sunday morning.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

But from the very first session with the voice therapist, she had a suspicion that something else was wrong.

From Slate • Apr. 18, 2026

The Nasdaq was up for a 13th straight session, matching its longest winning streak since 1992.

From Barron's • Apr. 17, 2026

Meta shares rose 1.7% Friday’s regular trading, but were recently down 0.1% in the after-hours session.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

“I almost feel as though I didn’t know any French at all before I came here,” I said to Luc at the end of one session, my brain feeling swollen and heavy.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

• conference
• discussion
• hearing
• period
• term