convention

[ kuhn-ven-shuhn ]

/ kənˈvɛn ʃən /

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See synonyms for: convention / conventions on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

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.

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

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.

general agreement or consent; accepted usage, especially as a standard of procedure: Certain uses of the comma have become established by convention.

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.

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.

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

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

OTHER WORDS FOR convention

8 pact, treaty.

See synonyms for convention on Thesaurus.com

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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

synonym study for convention

1. 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 WORDS FROM convention

an·ti·con·ven·tion, adjectivecoun·ter·con·ven·tion, nounpost·con·ven·tion, adjectivepre·con·ven·tion, noun

pro·con·ven·tion, adjectiveun·con·ven·tion, noun

Words nearby convention

conveniency, convenient, conveniently, convent, conventicle, convention, conventional, conventionalism, conventionality, conventionalize, conventional weapon

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

How to use convention in a sentence

It’s usually a tangle of A- through D-list celebrities, former football greats and not-so-greats, all roaming the halls of a convention hall, hawking everything from rental cars to pot supplements.
What’s the Super Bowl without the frenzy? For Leigh Steinberg: Misery. For players: Bliss.|Ben Strauss|February 4, 2021|Washington Post
Aside from protections for health, hygiene, and other living conditions, the convention specifies that no agreement between the parties supersedes its protections while occupation continues.
Israel leads the world in vaccination rates, but a key group is missing from the data|By Yara M. Asi/The Conversation|February 3, 2021|Popular-Science
I know now, though, that enough people found each other over the Internet and discovered that they shared this passion that entire conventions dedicated to furries emerged.
The country is being buffeted by groups that couldn’t exist 30 years ago|Philip Bump|January 27, 2021|Washington Post
After three marathon meetings, the party voted Saturday to stick with its plan to hold a convention.
Former Carlyle executive Glenn Youngkin joins race for Virginia governor|Laura Vozzella|January 27, 2021|Washington Post

In February 1823, two-thirds of the state’s House of Representatives — the required quorum — passed a resolution calling for a convention to change the Illinois Constitution to legalize slavery.
Loopholes have preserved slavery for more than 150 years after abolition|Caroline Kisiel|January 27, 2021|Washington Post
Rule 16(c) was a proposed change in the rules at the 1976 Republican Convention.
The World’s Toughest Political Quiz|Jeff Greenfield|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The crowd inside the convention center is very white, fairly old, and presumably decently rich.
Sneer and Clothing in Miami: Inside The $3 Billion Woodstock of Contemporary Art|Jay Michaelson|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Inside the Miami Beach Convention Center, there is a lot of good art—but more pretty art.
Sneer and Clothing in Miami: Inside The $3 Billion Woodstock of Contemporary Art|Jay Michaelson|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Who helps build convention centers and adjacent hotels so cities can attract convention business?
Democrats Are Petrified of Defending Government—but They Need to Start|Michael Tomasky|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“The social convention of not talking to a stranger was fairly rigid at the time,” Weber told me.
The Secret World of Pickup Artist Julien Blanc|Brandy Zadrozny|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is beyond the comprehension of any man not blinded by superstition, not warped by prejudice and old-time convention.
God and my Neighbour|Robert Blatchford
The French convention decreed that no quarters be given to British and Hanoverian soldiers.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
The armed Parisians again assembled with cannon around the convention, and demanded the arrest of the Brissotine party.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
A convention of delegates to revise the constitution of New York met at Albany.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Madame Roland, in the name of her husband, drew up for the Convention the plan of a republic as a substitute for the throne.
Madame Roland, Makers of History|John S. C. Abbott

British Dictionary definitions for convention

convention

/ (kənˈvɛnʃən) /

noun

a large formal assembly of a group with common interests, such as a political party or trade union
the persons attending such an assembly

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

diplomacy an international agreement second only to a treaty in formalitya telecommunications convention

any agreement, compact, or contract

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

an accepted rule, usage, etca convention used by printers

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

Word Origin for convention

C15: from Latin conventiō an assembling, agreeing

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

convention

OTHER WORDS FOR convention

Origin of convention

synonym study for convention

OTHER WORDS FROM convention

Words nearby convention

Words related to convention

How to use convention in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for convention

Word Origin for convention