conclave

noun con·clave \ ˈkän-ˌklāv \

|Updated on: 14 Jun 2018

Definition of conclave

1 : a private meeting or secret assembly; especially : a meeting of Roman Catholic cardinals secluded continuously while choosing a pope

The conclave elected the new pope on the fifth ballot.

2 : a gathering of a group or association

the annual conclave of newspaper publishers

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Recent Examples of conclave from the Web

The barrels are conclave at the bottom, and tuned to either a lower range of notes like a tuba, or mid-range and higher tones like trumpets and flutes, giving the full band an orchestra-like sound.

— yvette orozco, Houston Chronicle, "Parkview Intermediate music director had a few steel drums and an idea," 6 June 2018
Two top Vatican officials will also receive the honor of joining churchmen who vote for new popes in secret conclaves.

— frances d'emilio, USA TODAY, "Pope Francis to create 14 new cardinals in June," 20 May 2018
The campaigns of Joe Ganim and Susan Bysiewicz say party officials sprung the cost on the candidates with less than two weeks to go until the Democratic conclave in Hartford.

— neil vigdor, courant.com, "Connecticut Democrats Tell Candidates To Pay Up For The Convention," 9 May 2018
The conclave came just days after Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief, testified before Congress.

— The Economist, "America’s antitrust apparatus prepares to act against big tech," 26 Apr. 2018
Pope Francis, Benedict’s successor, ultimately permitted him to retain the title of cardinal but, in effect, stripped him of all privileges associated with that rank, including the right to vote in any Vatican conclave.

— sam roberts, New York Times, "Keith O’Brien, Cardinal Ousted in Sex Scandal, Dies at 80," 19 Mar. 2018
Benedict, the clear frontrunner in 2005, was elected after only four ballots, with seven ballots being the average over the last nine conclaves.

— samantha toscano, Woman's Day, "Black Smoke Rises as Cardinals Have Yet to Name New Pope," 13 Mar. 2013
Art Is Now More Permanent Than Perishable The robots, monsters and other harum-scarum works of art at Burning Man aren’t all destined for a pyre at the annual conclave in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert.

— brenda cronin, WSJ, "Met Museum Brings Some Versailles to New York," 31 Mar. 2018
Boughton and Walker are among about a dozen party hopefuls for governor looking to emerge from the conclave with the GOP endorsement.

— neil vigdor, courant.com, "Dave Walker: Mark Boughton's Health A Question Mark In Governor's Race," 21 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'conclave.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Ever wonder what happens behind locked doors? The etymology of conclave begs this question as the word comes from a Latin term meaning "room that can be locked up." The English word formerly had the same meaning, but that use is now obsolete. Today, "conclave" refers not to the locked rooms but to the private meetings and secret assemblies that occur within them. "Conclave" is especially likely to refer to a meeting of Roman Catholic cardinals who have secluded themselves to choose a pope, but it can refer to other types of private or secret meetings as well. The meaning of "conclave" has also expanded to include gatherings that are not necessarily secret or private but simply involve people with shared interests.

Origin and Etymology of conclave

Middle English, from Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French, from Medieval Latin, from Latin, room that can be locked up, from com- + clavis key — more at clavicle

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1524

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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