Definition of symposium
symposia
play \-zē-ə, -zh(ē-)ə\ orsymposiums
1a : a convivial party (as after a banquet in ancient Greece) with music and conversationb : a social gathering at which there is free interchange of ideas
2a : a formal meeting at which several specialists deliver short addresses on a topic or on related topics — compare colloquiumb : a collection of opinions on a subject; especially : one published by a periodicalc : discussion
Read the Latest from M-W
symposium was our Word of the Day on 12/05/2006. Hear the podcast!
Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP
Examples of symposium in a Sentence
Professors and graduate students attended the symposium.
recently attended a daylong symposium on new methods of chromatography
Recent Examples of symposium from the Web
-
As proof, Thielman posted a screenshot of a video to Twitter, in which Abe gives a keynote address in English at a 2014 coastal resilience symposium.
-
The first part of the symposium will be divided into two areas.
-
In a June symposium about the trials, Baker spoke about the volatile political and social climate in Salem in the 1790s.
-
A variety of options will be available, such as visits to galleries, studios, museums, historic landmarks and a symposium focused on the island’s LGBTQ history.
-
A break in the team’s schedule allowed for Gaines to jet across the country, solely to hear Vaccaro speak on the rising discussion of amateurism and the NCAA at the Harvard Sports Law Symposium in 2011.
-
Joe and Katy Kindred, the owners of Kindred in Davidson, spent months searching for ideas for a dinner for the Southern Foodways summer symposium, El Sur Latino.
-
In 2012, fire safety experts invited green building representatives to a symposium in Chicago.
-
The symposium is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, June 23 at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and 8:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 24 at the Kauffman Foundation Conference Center.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'symposium.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
It was drinking more than thinking that drew people to the original symposia and that gave us the word symposium. The ancient Greeks would often follow a banquet with a drinking party they called a "symposion." That name came from "sympinein," a verb that combines pinein, meaning "to drink," with the prefix syn-, meaning "together." Originally, English speakers only used "symposium" to refer to such an ancient Greek party, but in the 18th century British gentlemen's clubs started using the word for gatherings in which intellectual conversation was fueled by drinking. By the 19th century, "symposium" had gained the more sober sense we know today, describing meetings in which the focus is more on the exchange of ideas and less on imbibing.
Origin and Etymology of symposium
Latin, from Greek symposion, from sympinein to drink together, from syn- + pinein to drink — more at potable
SYMPOSIUM Defined for English Language Learners
symposium
playDefinition of symposium for English Language Learners
-
: a formal meeting at which experts discuss a particular topic
-
: a collection of articles on a particular subject
Learn More about symposium
-
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for symposium Spanish Central: Translation of symposium Nglish: Translation of symposium for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of symposium for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about symposium
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up symposium? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!