convocation

noun

con·​vo·​ca·​tion ˌkän-və-ˈkā-shən 

1

a

: an assembly of persons called together to a meeting

b(1)

: an assembly of bishops and representative clergy of the Church of England

(2)

: a consultative assembly of clergy and lay delegates from one part of an Episcopal diocese

also : a territorial division of an Episcopal diocese

c

: a ceremonial assembly of members of a college or university

gave a speech at the convocation

2

: the act or process of calling an assembly of persons to a meeting

convocational

ˌkän-və-ˈkā-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

adjective

Synonyms

• assemblage
• assembly
• conference
• congregation
• gathering
• ingathering
• meeting
• muster

Examples of convocation in a Sentence

They called for the immediate convocation of the council.

the first speaker to address the convocation

Recent Examples on the Web

Doors are set to open at 6 p.m. More than 30 school-specific convocations are scheduled throughout graduation week. —The Arizona Republic, 8 Apr. 2024

Registration is required for the convocation, at www.mcdaniel.edu/bhm-event. —Allana Haynes, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2024

The groups are known as a convocation, an aerie, even a congress. —Journal Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2024

The events begin with an educational showcase at 4:30 p.m. and continue with a convocation set to start at 6 p.m., at the Roj Student Center at McDaniel College, 2 College Hill, Westminster. —Allana Haynes, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2024

The primarily European cast is a convocation of aliens, not unlike those untrustworthy grip-and-grin photo ops that American celebs take with Zelensky. —Armond White, National Review, 14 Feb. 2024

Rogue Oliphant is a convocation of aces: Warren Zanes, Chris Harford, Cait O’Riordan, David Mansfield, and Ray Kubian. —Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 8 Jan. 2024

This past week, Florida A&M University celebrated its homecoming with a bevy of events including convocation, on-campus tailgates and parties, and the football game versus Prairie View A&M University. —Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 30 Oct. 2023

First, there was a trip across town, to a U.N. convocation on coffee sustainability, with such panelists as the economist Jeffrey Sachs. —D. T. Max, The New Yorker, 8 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, from Latin convocation-, convocatio, from convocare — see convoke

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

convocation

noun

con·​vo·​ca·​tion ˌkän-və-ˈkā-shən 

: an assembly of persons called together to a meeting