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
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At a secret conclave aboard a British dreadnought off the coast of Norway in late July, a far-sighted politician by the name of Winston Churchill, then First Lord of the Admiralty, worked with French, Russian and Turkish diplomats to forge a treaty.
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Griffin appeared on the final day of a three-day conclave at a luxury resort in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains that attracted more than 400 conservative donors to the network founded by billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch.
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Griffin appeared on the final day of a three-day conclave at a luxury resort in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains that attracted more than 400 conservative donors to the network founded by billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch.
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Griffin appeared on the final day of a three-day conclave at a luxury resort in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains that attracted more than 400 conservative donors to the network founded by billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch.
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Trump himself has rarely been mentioned by name, either positively or negatively, during the three-day conclave, which continues through tonight.
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Few senators were included in the secretive drafting process, which McConnell oversaw alongside a small conclave of aides, lawmakers, and lobbyists.
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In 2001, he was proclaimed Cardinal by former Pope John Paul II, and went on to vote in two papal conclaves.
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Everyone refused to comment on what was even discussed in the conclave.
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
CONCLAVE Defined for English Language Learners
conclave
playDefinition of conclave for English Language Learners
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: a private or secret meeting or group
Learn More about conclave
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See words that rhyme with conclave Spanish Central: Translation of conclave Nglish: Translation of conclave for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about conclave
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