conclave

[ kon-kleyv, kong- ]

/ ˈkɒn kleɪv, ˈkɒŋ- /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for conclave on Thesaurus.com

noun

a private or secret meeting.

an assembly or gathering, especially one that has special authority, power, or influence: a conclave of political leaders.

the assembly or meeting of the cardinals for the election of a pope.

the body of cardinals; the College of Cardinals.

the place in which the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church meet in private for the election of a pope.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of conclave

1350–1400; Middle English <Medieval Latin, Latin conclāve room, enclosed space, representing (camera) cum clāve (room) with key. See con-, clef

Words nearby conclave

concinnous, concise, concisely, conciseness, concision, conclave, conclavist, conclude, concluded, conclusion, conclusive

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use conclave in a sentence

While Beijing was never mentioned directly in that conclave, its aggressive approach toward its neighbors, from the Himalayas to the South China Sea, is the glue that binds America’s friends in that region.
Butterfly Effect: Can Cold Alaska Yield a Thaw With Beijing?|Charu Kasturi|March 18, 2021|Ozy
He quotes an unnamed cardinal saying that the conclave voters knew the charges were false.
How Pope Francis Became the World’s BFF|Jason Berry|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In secret conclave, the Embassy discussed its evacuation plans.
The Stacks: How The Berlin Wall Inspired John le Carré’s First Masterpiece|John le Carré|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The holy listicle serves as further proof that the 2013 papal conclave elected Oprah as the new pope.
Call Him ‘Poprah’: Pope Francis’s 10 Commandments for a Happy Life|Asawin Suebsaeng|July 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST

At the last conclave to select a new pope, the “Vaticanista” press corps touted him as one of the leading candidates.
Cardinal O'Malley: Pope Francis Knows Immigrants Are the Future of the Church|Christopher Dickey|June 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Days later, Bergoglio was elected pope by a conclave of cardinals.
The Pope and the Queen to Square up Over Falklands|Tom Kington|April 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Their gestures and manner of argument did not bear out the joyful tidings brought to the conclave by the Shahzada.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
The princess was in the family conclave which met to consider an amorous escapade of the Duchesse Antoinette de Langeais.
Repertory Of The Comedie Humaine, Complete, A -- Z|Anatole Cerfberr and Jules Franois Christophe
Laurence Corsini was elected pope by the conclave, after it had sat four months.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Gathered together at one of the principal houses in secret conclave were some of the chief Turks of the province.
Jack Harkaway's Boy Tinker Among The Turks|Bracebridge Hemyng
A special conclave assembled and summoned our landlord, threatening all sorts of vengeance if he did not turn us out.
Silver Chimes in Syria|W. S. Nelson

British Dictionary definitions for conclave

conclave

/ (ˈkɒnkleɪv, ˈkɒŋ-) /

noun

a confidential or secret meeting

RC Church

the closed apartments where the college of cardinals elects a new pope
a meeting of the college of cardinals for this purpose

Derived forms of conclave

conclavist, noun

Word Origin for conclave

C14: from Medieval Latin conclāve, from Latin: cage, place that may be locked, from clāvis key

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

conclave

Origin of conclave

Words nearby conclave

Words related to conclave

How to use conclave in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for conclave

Derived forms of conclave

Word Origin for conclave