convention

[ kuhn-ven-shuhn ]

/ kənˈvɛn ʃən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR convention ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

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

an agreement, compact, or contract.

an international agreement, especially one dealing with a specific matter, as postal service or copyright.

a rule, method, or practice established by usage; custom: the convention of showing north at the top of a map.

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

conventionalism.

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

Nearby words

convenient, conveniently, convenor, convent, conventicle, convention, convention center, conventional, conventional sign, conventional thoracoplasty, conventional weapon

Origin of convention

1375–1425; late Middle English convencio(u)n (< Middle French) < Latin conventiōn- (stem of conventiō) agreement, literally, a coming together. See convene, -tion

SYNONYMS FOR convention

3 pact, treaty.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR convention ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

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

Synonym study

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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for convention

In 1968, at the ripe age of 14, I was at the Miami convention carrying my Rockefeller sign on the convention floor.
This Republican Loved Taxes & Modern Art|Scott Porch|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The outraged grammar stickler mistakes a convention for an immutable and fundamental law of the universe.
Go Ahead, End With a Preposition: Grammar Rules We All Can Live With|Nick Romeo|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That convention, though poorly attended, was the precursor to the Constitutional Convention.
Washington’s Wheeler-Dealer Patriotism|William O’Connor|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
During the convention, debates about the executive were shaped by the belief that Washington would be its first office-holder.
Washington’s Wheeler-Dealer Patriotism|William O’Connor|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The convention only gains legitimacy when Washington agrees to not only attend it, but preside over it.
Washington’s Wheeler-Dealer Patriotism|William O’Connor|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And if the convention was ignored, as it sometimes was, Hugo alone had the right to begin the ignoring of it.
Hugo|Arnold Bennett
The law has been declared by the law officers of the Crown to be a breach of the London Convention.
The Transvaal from Within|J. P. Fitzpatrick
The Convention met on the 21st of September, and its first act was to abolish the ancient monarchy and proclaim France a republic.
An Introduction to the History of Western Europe|James Harvey Robinson
It was not a convention of Abolitionists, although Garrison was a member, but of politicians, mostly of the Whig party.
William Lloyd Garrison|Archibald H. Grimke
They had shown in their convention a few weeks before their hostility to autonomy.
The History of Cuba, vol. 4|Willis Fletcher Johnson

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

Word Origin and History for convention

convention

early 15c., "agreement," from Middle French convention and directly from Latin conventionem (nominative conventio) "meeting, assembly, covenant," noun of action from past participle stem of convenire (see convene).

convention

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of convention

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for convention

British Dictionary definitions for convention

convention

noun

Word Origin for convention

Word Origin and History for convention

convention