convention

noun con·ven·tion \ kən-ˈven(t)-shən \

|Updated on: 14 Jun 2018

Examples: convention in a Sentence

1 a : agreement, contract

b : an agreement between states for regulation of matters affecting all of them

an international convention banning the spread of nuclear weapons

c : a compact between opposing commanders especially concerning prisoner exchange or armistice

d : a general agreement about basic principles or procedures; also : a principle or procedure accepted as true or correct by convention

the conventions of grammar

2 a : the summoning or convening of an assembly

b : an assembly of persons met for a common purpose

a comic book convention

; especially : a meeting of the delegates of a political party for the purpose of formulating a platform and selecting candidates for office

c : the usually state or national organization of a religious denomination

3 a : usage or custom especially in social matters

conventions of society

b : a rule of conduct or behavior

c : a practice in bidding or playing that conveys information between partners in a card game (such as bridge)

d : an established technique, practice, or device (as in the theater)

The usual romantic conventions made the film predictable.

See convention defined for English-language learners

See convention defined for kids

Examples of convention in a Sentence

We go to the weeklong annual teachers' convention every summer.
He bought some new books at the science fiction convention.
The Democratic National Convention will meet next week to announce their party's candidate for president.
It's important to follow the conventions of punctuation in a paper for school.
They say school is just as important for teaching children social codes and conventions as for teaching math.
Many sports shows have recently adopted the conventions of the talk show.
a poet who rebels against literary convention
The award that by convention should have gone to the student with the highest grade went instead to the teacher's favorite.
As a matter of convention, the oldest members speak first.
The director's use of the usual romantic conventions made the film boring and predictable.

Recent Examples of convention from the Web

And in Utah, Jenny Wilson, who served on the Salt Lake County Council, won first place at the Democratic party's convention and will be the party's nominee.

— annie grayer and grace sparks, CNN, "Record numbers of women are running, but how many can win?," 11 June 2018
Patterson stepped down voluntarily from speaking at the convention on Friday.

— sarah smith, star-telegram, "Southern Baptists have a new keynote speaker. A teacher at his church was accused of child abuse," 8 June 2018
Herbst, the former Trumbull first selectman, finished second to Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton at the state GOP convention last month.

— neil vigdor, courant.com, "Tim Herbst Brings In New Campaign Manager, Replaces Treasurer Again," 8 June 2018
On Tuesday, Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez gave House Democrats a preview of a potential compromise: Superdelegates would get no vote whatsoever on the first ballot at the next Democratic convention.

— david weigel, Washington Post, "DNC considers blocking superdelegates from voting on first presidential ballot," 8 June 2018
The majority of the votes from delegates at the party's annual convention went to State Sen. Kevin de Leon, Feinstein's progressive challenger who served as the former president pro tempore of the California Senate.

— gregg re, Fox News, "California's key primaries: Trump-backed John Cox outpaces Villaraigosa for governor, Feinstein takes top spot in Senate contest," 6 June 2018
Ganim, Bridgeport’s mayor, failed to win enough support at the Democratic convention last month to qualify for the August primary.

— jenna carlesso, Courant Community, "Hartford Councilwoman Must Resign After Changing Party Affiliation," 5 June 2018
More importantly, his supporters blocked an expected endorsement of Feinstein at the state Democratic convention and came closer than the incumbent to the 60 percent of delegates required to get the nod.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "There Is a Lot at Stake in California’s Primaries Today," 5 June 2018
That means either Soglin or his campaign manager, Melissa Mulliken, didn't bother to cast a ballot for the longtime mayor during the two-day convention in Oshkosh.

— patrick marley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Longtime Madison Mayor Paul Soglin gets just 1 vote in Democratic straw poll in governor's race," 4 June 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of convention

Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin convention-, conventio, from convenire — see convenient

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

convention Synonyms

Synonyms

assembly, congress, convocation, council, gathering, get-together, huddle, meeting, powwow;

Related Words

clinic, workshop;

caucus, conclave, synod;

demonstration, rally;

conversation, dialogue (also dialog), discourse, discussion, palaver, talk;

negotiation, parley, summit;

conference, forum, roundtable, seminar, symposium;

audience, interview, session;

Other Game Terms

bezique, carom, crap, euchre, gambit, monte, parlay, tierce

CONVENTION Defined for English Language Learners

convention

noun

: a large meeting of people who come to a place for usually several days to talk about their shared work or other interests or to make decisions as a group
: a custom or a way of acting or doing things that is widely accepted and followed
: a traditional or common style often used in literature, theater, or art to create a particular effect

CONVENTION Defined for Kids

convention

noun con·ven·tion \ kən-ˈven-chən \

1 : a meeting of people for a common purpose

a teachers' convention

2 : a custom or a way of acting and doing things that is widely accepted and followed

Follow the conventions of punctuation in your writing.

3 : agreement 3

a convention among nations

Law Dictionary

convention

noun con·ven·tion

1 : an agreement between nations for regulation of matters affecting all of them

2 : an agreement enforceable in law : contract

3 : an assembly of persons met for a common purpose; especially : a meeting of the delegates of a political party for the purpose of formulating a platform and selecting candidates for office