noun

convention

kuhn-VEHN-shuhn

noun

A large formal gathering of people who share a profession, interest, or cause.

"Thousands of fans attended the comic convention."

"The party held its national convention in Chicago."

A formal agreement between countries or groups, often part of international law.

"The Geneva Convention sets rules for the treatment of prisoners of war."

An accepted way of doing something, followed simply because it is customary.

"It is a convention in English to capitalise the first word of a sentence."

"Wearing black to a funeral is a long-standing social convention."

How to Use Convention

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a big organised meeting, a formal treaty, or simply "the way things are usually done."

Common pairings

social convention attend a convention sign a convention

conventions plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

Thousands of fans attended the comic _____.

From Latin conventio, "a coming together, an agreement," from convenire, "to come together."

ion lion Zion Dion Sion union scion Orion Onion action minion bunion