Dictionary.com

forum

[ fawr-uhm, fohr-uhm ]
/ ˈfɔr əm, ˈfoʊr əm /
Save This Word!
See synonyms for: forum / fora on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural fo·rums, fo·ra [fawr-uh, fohr-uh]. /ˈfɔr ə, ˈfoʊr ə/.
the marketplace or public square of an ancient Roman city, the center of judicial and business affairs and a place of assembly for the people.
a court or tribunal: the forum of public opinion.
an assembly, meeting place, television program, etc., for the discussion of questions of public interest.
Also called online forum, internet forum, web forum . message board.
the Forum, the forum in the ancient city of Rome.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

Origin of forum

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Latin: “marketplace, public place,” akin to forīs, forās “outside,” foris door

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH forum

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

How to use forum in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for forum (1 of 2)

forum
/ (ˈfɔːrəm) /

noun plural -rums or -ra (-rə)
a meeting or assembly for the open discussion of subjects of public interest
a medium for open discussion, such as a magazine
a public meeting place for open discussion
a court; tribunal
(in South Africa) a pressure group of leaders or representatives, esp Black leaders or representatives
(in ancient Italy) an open space, usually rectangular in shape, serving as a city's marketplace and centre of public business

Word Origin for forum

C15: from Latin: public place; related to Latin foris outside

British Dictionary definitions for forum (2 of 2)

Forum

Forum Romanum

/ (rəʊˈmɑːnəm) /

noun
the Forum the main forum of ancient Rome, situated between the Capitoline and the Palatine Hills
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
FEEDBACK