conclave

noun

con·​clave ˈkän-ˌklāv 

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

Did you know?

Conclave comes from a Latin word meaning "room that can be locked up" (from the Latin com-, "together," and clavis, "key"). The English conclave 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. The meaning of conclave has also expanded to include gatherings that are not necessarily secret or private but simply involve people with shared interests.

Examples of conclave in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Parolin, who had been Francis' top deputy but remains in the job, was considered a leading contender in the conclave that elected Leo and was recently passed over as dean of the College of Cardinals. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

And as recent conclaves have elected men in their late 60s and 70s, health difficulties are never far around the corner. — Antonia Mortensen, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026

Still, the invitation-only club remains one of the more exclusive conclaves in New York City, with dues-paying club-goers supporting NYAC’s 400 elite athletes across 11 Olympic sports. — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Thousands of reporters from all over the world had poured into the city to cover the conclave. — Scott Detrow, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1524, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for conclave

• agave
• behave
• concave
• enclave
• engrave
• enslave
• forgave
• landgrave
• margrave
• shortwave
• aftershave
• architrave

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Kids Definition

conclave

noun

con·​clave ˈkän-ˌklāv 

: a private or secret meeting or assembly