conference

[kon-fer-uhns, -fruhns]

noun

1. a meeting for consultation or discussion.

   a conference between a student and his adviser.

   Synonyms: colloquium, parley

2. the act of conferring or consulting together; consultation, especially on an important or serious matter.

3. Government.,  a meeting, as of various committees, to settle disagreements between the two branches of the legislature.

4. an association of athletic teams; league.

   an intercollegiate conference.

5. Ecclesiastical.

   1. an official assembly of clergy or of clergy and laity, customary in many Christian denominations.

   2. a group of churches whose representatives regularly meet in such an assembly.

verb (used without object)

conferenced, conferencing 

1. to hold or participate in a conference or series of conferences.

conference

/ ˈkɒnfərəns, -frəns, ˌkɒnfəˈrɛnʃəl /

noun

1. a meeting for consultation, exchange of information, or discussion, esp one with a formal agenda

2. a formal meeting of two or more states, political groups, etc, esp to discuss differences or formulate common policy

3. an assembly of the clergy or of clergy and laity of any of certain Protestant Christian Churches acting as representatives of their denomination

   the Methodist conference

4. sport a league or division of clubs or teams

5. rare,  an act of bestowal

Other Word Forms

• conferential adjective
• preconference noun
• subconference noun
• subconferential adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of conference¹

From the Medieval Latin word conferentia, dating back to 1530–40. See confer, -ence

Word History and Origins

Origin of conference¹

C16: from Medieval Latin conferentia, from Latin conferre to bring together; see _confer

Synonym Study

See convention.

Example Sentences

Under plans unveiled as its annual conference begins, the party has pledged to ban people who enter the UK without permission from ever claiming asylum.

From BBC

He had calmed down by the end of the official news conference, after which he told BBC Sport: "Of course these things happen, I just hope it wasn't deliberate."

From BBC

With conference about to start, it's almost a Tory tradition to fill the papers and podcasts with gripes about the party leader.

From BBC

The announcement on the eve of the party's conference in Manchester will settle the party's position following months of internal divisions.

From BBC

“I just accepted failing, so my thought process on failing changed,” Betts said in an introspective press conference on the eve of the playoffs.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• consultation 
• discussion 
• forum 
• interview 
• meeting 
• seminar 
• symposium 
• talk