WordGarden.ioconvention
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /kənvˈɛnʃən/
US
- /kənˈvɛnʃən/
Meanings
Noun
a large formal meeting for people with a shared interest or organization
an accepted custom, practice, or way of doing something
a formal agreement between countries or organizations
Beyond the definition
A convention isn't just a gathering of people—it's also a shared way of doing things. Think about how we greet each other (a handshake or a bow) or the usual rules for playing a game. These are conventions: unwritten agreements that help life run more smoothly. But "convention" can also mean a real-life gathering—a large meeting focused on a specific interest, like comic book fans at Comic-Con or political parties choosing a candidate. And in a more official setting, it can mean a formal agreement, often between countries (for example, the Geneva Conventions). So it can be a shared habit, an official agreement, or a massive event. If you break a convention, people might raise an eyebrow, but sometimes going against these social or artistic norms is exactly how new ideas are born.
The word "convention" is rooted in the idea of "coming together," and it covers three main areas of life. First, a convention is a generally accepted practice or custom—a way of doing things that has become the standard over time. These are the "rules of the game" for society, such as the social convention of waiting your turn in line or the literary convention of a story having a beginning, middle, and end. While these aren't always written laws, following them makes our interactions and culture feel predictable and cohesive.
Second, "convention" refers to a formal agreement or treaty between groups or nations. You have likely heard of the Geneva Conventions; in this context, the word describes a "meeting of minds" where different parties agree to follow specific rules on a global scale.
Third, a convention is a large formal gathering of people who share a common interest. These can be professional industry events for specialists in fields like medicine or technology, or massive fan-based celebrations for hobbies and pop culture. At these events, attendees network, share new developments, and celebrate their shared passions.
The word originates from the Latin conventio, meaning "coming together." Whether it's people physically meeting in a convention center, nations agreeing on a treaty, or a society settling on a common custom, "convention" always implies a shared understanding and a degree of agreement on how things are typically done.
Examples
- 1
Social custom
In many places, shaking hands is still a common social convention.
- 2
Social expectations
She ignored convention and wore jeans to the wedding.
- 3
Meeting practice
By convention, the oldest member speaks first at the meeting.
- Patternby convention
according to the usual rule or practice
- 4
Writing rules
In English, starting a sentence with a capital letter is a basic writing convention.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
File naming
The team agreed on a naming convention for all the project files.
- Phrasea naming convention
a standard way of naming things
- 6
Professional gathering
Thousands of teachers attended the annual education convention this year.
- 7
Political event
The candidate officially accepted the nomination at the party convention.
- 8
International law
The country signed an international convention on the rights of refugees.
- Domainan international convention
a formal agreement between countries
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- social convention
- literary convention
- by convention
- break with convention
Word family
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Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- conventionnoun
Forms
- conventionspluralnoun