convention

American  

[kuhn-ven-shuhn] / kənˈvɛn ʃən /

noun

1. a large formal meeting or assembly, as of members, representatives, or delegates, for discussion of and action on particular matters of common concern.

   In 1932 he was elected president of the Missouri State Medical Association at its annual convention.

2. a large meeting of people with a common interest, as in a particular recreational activity.

   The site is a fan's resource for finding upcoming comic, gaming, and sci-fi conventions throughout the world.

3. U.S. Politics. a representative party assembly to nominate candidates and adopt platforms and party rules.

4. a rule, method, or practice established by usage; custom.

   In Social Studies, the second graders learned the convention of showing north at the top of a map.

5. general agreement or consent; accepted usage, especially as a standard of procedure.

   Certain uses of the comma have become established by convention.

6. accepted practice that has become removed from naturally occurring behavior; conventionalism.

   As young, second-career farmers, they're not bound by convention, and their land isn't a traditional farm.

7. a standard or customary device, structure, premise, style, etc., used in literature, music, or the arts.

   Big eyes and small mouths are among the most noticeable artistic conventions of anime.

   Le Guin’s novelette turned science fiction conventions on their head by making humans the invaders.

8. an agreement, compact, or contract, such as an international agreement dealing with postal service or copyright.

   Synonyms:

   treaty, pact

9. Bridge. any of a variety of established systems or methods of bidding or playing that allows partners to convey certain information about their hands.

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convention British  

/ kənˈvɛnʃən /

noun

1. 1. a large formal assembly of a group with common interests, such as a political party or trade union

   2. the persons attending such an assembly

2. politics an assembly of delegates of one party to select candidates for office

3. diplomacy an international agreement second only to a treaty in formality

   a telecommunications convention

4. any agreement, compact, or contract

5. the most widely accepted or established view of what is thought to be proper behaviour, good taste, etc

6. an accepted rule, usage, etc

   a convention used by printers

7. Also called: conventional.  bridge a bid or play not to be taken at its face value, which one's partner can interpret according to a prearranged bidding system

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Related Words

Convention, assembly, conference, convocation name meetings for particular purposes. Convention usually suggests a meeting of delegates representing political, church, social, or fraternal organizations. Assembly usually implies a meeting for a settled or customary purpose, as for discussion, legislation, or participation in a social function. Conference suggests a meeting for consultation and discussion about business or professional problems. Convocation denotes a (church) assembly, the members of which have been summoned for a special purpose; chapel services at some colleges are called convocations.

Other Word Forms

• anticonvention
  adjective
• counterconvention
  noun
• postconvention
  adjective
• preconvention
  noun
• proconvention
  adjective
• unconvention
  noun

Etymology

Origin of convention

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English convencio(u)n “formal meeting,” from Middle French convencion “meeting, agreement, covenant,” and Latin conventiōn- (stem of conventiō ) “assembly, agreement,” literally, “a coming together”; see convene, -tion

Explanation

A convention is a meeting, usually of a particular group. Political parties, teachers, plumbers, gardeners, toymakers and computer designers all hold conventions. In fact, lots of cities have built Convention Centers in hopes of attracting convention-goers. The best-known conventions happen every four years when the Democrats and Republicans meet to nominate presidential candidates. A convention can also be used to describe the normal or accepted way of doing things. It's the convention, for example, for your employer to give you a three-day weekend around the Fourth of July, even if it falls on a weekend.

Example Sentences

There was even a carnivore convention earlier this month in Tennessee.

From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026

Legionnaires’ disease was discovered in 1976 after a major outbreak affecting attendees of a convention of the American Legion in Philadelphia, according to the CDC.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

In 2019, a judge ordered Rivera Ortega's removal from the US to El Salvador, but in the same court order, granted her a protection known as withholding of removal under the convention against torture.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

For Vince, who spoke with AFP at the CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas, the audience reception to news of the latest production, which sees the canine hero back on the basketball court, has been "overwhelming."

From Barron's • May 10, 2026

This trade-off led to another sharp disagreement that threatened the convention: How would America’s population be counted?

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

Related Words

• code
• law
• rule