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

"Let me say this: the days of mass, low-skill migration has to end," he told the Tory conference in Manchester.

From BBC

"Eighteen thousand jobs were lost in the steel sector in 2024. That's too many, and we had to put a stop to that", he told a news conference at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

From BBC

At the Conservative conference this week, Conservatives have been discussing how to respond to the threat posed by Nigel Farage's party.

From BBC

The image of Nigel Farage has loomed over this party conference season, as the established parties scramble to come up with a response to the rapid rise of Reform UK.

From BBC

The announcement was made by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences at a news conference in Stockholm, Sweden.

From BBC

Related Words

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