conclave

noun

con·​clave ˈkän-ˌklāv How to pronounce conclave (audio)
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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Do cardinals who gather for a conclave sleep on the premises? Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 26 Oct. 2024 The conclave happens when the group has to be sequestered to make the pick, and people forced to be together is always a great set up for drama. Lisa Respers France, CNN, 25 Oct. 2024 But once the conclave starts, so do the machinations, power grabs — and revelations that could rattle the Catholic Church. Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 23 Oct. 2024 Shooting the five large conclave voting scenes was not easy. Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 23 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for conclave 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of conclave was in 1524

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Cite this Entry

“Conclave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conclave. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

conclave

noun
con·​clave ˈkän-ˌklāv How to pronounce conclave (audio)
: a private or secret meeting or assembly
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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