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• round table
  round table

  noun

  a number of persons gathered together for conference, discussion of some subject, etc., and often seated at a round table.
• round-table
  round-table

  adjective

  noting or pertaining to a conference, discussion, or deliberation in which each participant has equal status, equal time to present views, etc..
• Round Table
  Round Table

  noun

  (in Arthurian legend) the table of King Arthur, shaped so that his knights could sit around it without any having precedence

round table

¹ American  

Also roundtable

noun

• round tables
  plural

1. a number of persons gathered together for conference, discussion of some subject, etc., and often seated at a round table.

2. the discussion, topic of discussion, or the conference itself.

3. Arthurian Legend. Round Table,

   1. the table, made round to avoid quarrels as to precedence, about which King Arthur and his knights sat.

   2. King Arthur and his knights.

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round-table ² American  

[round-tey-buhl] / ˈraʊndˌteɪ bəl /

adjective

1. noting or pertaining to a conference, discussion, or deliberation in which each participant has equal status, equal time to present views, etc..

   round-table discussions.

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Round Table ¹ British  

noun

1. (in Arthurian legend) the table of King Arthur, shaped so that his knights could sit around it without any having precedence

2. Arthur and his knights collectively

3. one of an organization of clubs of young business and professional men who meet in order to further social and business activities and charitable work

4. (in New Zealand) an organization of businessmen supporting policies of the New Right

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round table ² British  

noun

1. 1. a meeting of parties or people on equal terms for discussion

   2. ( as modifier )

      a round-table conference

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• round tables
  plural

Etymology

Origin of round table¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300

Origin of round-table²

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

round table round-table Round Table

I joined Stevens, the shop owner, and one other national reporter at a round table and we interviewed the congresswoman for about 20 minutes.

From Slate ● Jul. 30, 2026

But unfortunately, by the time Rausch steps up to defend him, the innocent comic is beyond any chance of clemency at the banishment round table.

From Salon ● Jun. 20, 2026

Adjacent to the cuisine center is a breakfast nook with a round table.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 18, 2026

Perhaps not surprisingly, Carr later looked a bit edgy about the upcoming round table, telling Cat Burns his Shakepearean moment was "so obvious".

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2025

For the second time, at this round table, in this fine house, with all of Emmett’s great pasta, Axel escapes.

From "A Bird Will Soar" by Alison Green Myers

Evidence was gathered from a survey of nearly 2,000 sergeants and inspectors, expert round-table discussions and more than 400 responses to an open call for evidence.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

But it said representatives from business, civil society, health, culture, higher education and policing would take part in individual round-table discussions with members of the Jewish community, hosted by the ministers.

From BBC ● May 4, 2026

And on “Brand New City,” she takes in the scene surrounding her, noting that “‘You Can’t Hurry Love’ plays on the stereo,” while “We quote all our friends / Like they’re round-table poets.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2025

Ahead of the banquet, Ng and 19 other community leaders and local, state and federal officials gathered for a round-table discussion.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 22, 2024

An image appeared, the first Marvellers sitting at a round-table covered with food.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

In Poland, Solidarity and Lech Wałęsa walked into the Round Table talks as the uncontested voice of the nation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 7, 2025

Though Gandhi did not attend the opening event, several representatives from the Indian delegation of the second Round Table were present.

From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2025

“The Bright Sword” distinguishes itself from more straightforward Arthurian legends by focusing on the characters on the far end of the Round Table, far from the star power of Arthur and Merlin.

From Seattle Times ● May 14, 2024

Mankiewicz’s work often went unacknowledged, but he’d helped give the 1930s comedies the rat-a-tat rhythm of he and his friends ping-ponging jokes around the Algonquin Round Table.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2024

The knights of the Round Table were sent out as a measure against Fort Mayne, and the choleric barons who lived by Fort Mayne took the cudgels with the ferocity of despair.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White