convention

noun

con·ven·tion | \ kən-ˈven(t)-shən

Definition of convention

1a : 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

2a : 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

3a : 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.

Synonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing convention Learn More About convention

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web The result provoked some attacks on Cornyn and led to a heavy amount of booing at the Texas GOP convention. — Paul Kane, BostonGlobe.com, 28 July 2022 The first look at Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, debuted at Marvel Studios’ panel at the popular convention. — Okla Jones, Essence, 23 July 2022 At the Republican convention, Morales defeated both current Secretary of State Holli Sullivan and Knox County Clerk David Shelton in the second round of voting, claiming 52% of the ballots. — Kaitlin Lange, The Indianapolis Star, 19 July 2022 Days after the state Republican convention, a couple of hundred people assembled on the steps of the State Capitol in Denver. — New York Times, 19 July 2022 And Hogan's neighbor to the south, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, was the keynote speaker at the Nebraska GOP State convention this past Saturday in Lincoln, Neb., about 60 miles west of the Iowa border. — Aaron Navarro, CBS News, 12 July 2022 Alicia Holder, a 33-year-old college student, shouted at a pair of convention goers. — Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC News, 27 May 2022 This has limited gameplay access to a handful of rare cabinet collectors and convention goers. — Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 26 May 2022 The weekly event will shut down the street to vehicles so that multiple food trucks can park on the street, allowing downtown employees, visitors, and convention-goers to take advantage of a fun atmosphere and additional lunchtime options. — Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 24 May 2022 See More

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.

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Dictionary Entries Near convention

conventicular

convention

conventional

Statistics for convention

Last Updated

3 Aug 2022

Cite this Entry

“Convention.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/convention. Accessed 15 Aug. 2022.

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More Definitions for convention

convention

noun

con·ven·tion | \ kən-ˈven-chən

Kids Definition of convention

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 sense 3 a convention among nations

convention

noun

con·ven·tion

Legal Definition of convention

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