colloquy

noun

ˈkä-lə-kwē How to pronounce colloquy (audio)
Definition of colloquynext
1
as in symposium
a meeting featuring a group discussion attended a colloquy on economic globalization

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in discussion
an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue the subject of the spirited colloquy was the disputed authorship of the plays attributed to Shakespeare

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in conversation
talking or a talk between two or more people a casual colloquy between two old colleagues in the faculty lounge

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of colloquy When the reporters were not to be denied, a Giants press person threatened to shut down the colloquy. — Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026 There were some priceless moments in court, including an extended colloquy between Justice Elena Kagan and Hemani’s attorney about a hypothetical statute that Congress might pass to disarm users of the psychedelic drug ayahuasca. — Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 12 Mar. 2026 There is nothing analytical about Jackiw and Denk’s rendition, which translates all those formal intricacies into an infectious colloquy of voices. — Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024 These artist combinations – or colloquies, as Viveros-Fauné calls them – are especially effective at Stelo Arts and Parallax Art Center. — Briana Miller | , oregonlive, 11 Sep. 2023 Charlie and Joanie’s colloquy in the thoroughfare is also a mutual reassurance that the other’s dream has value. — Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 22 Dec. 2021 While there is inevitably a performative dimension to the colloquy between these two figures who have spent so many years on the public stage, Obama and Springsteen are also both deeply introspective. — BostonGlobe.com, 25 Mar. 2021 And the superb Baryshnikov somehow turns his body to stone, ending the colloquy. — Joan Acocella, The New York Review of Books, 14 May 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colloquy
  1. symposium
  2. discussion
  3. conversation
  4. seminar
  5. debate
  6. converse
  7. conference
  8. consultation
Noun
  • Some of the symposium's organizers, like Ashley Mason, a clinical psychologist at the University of California, San Francisco, acknowledge their goal is partly to dispel the whiff of wellness hype.
    — Will Stone, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026
  • For The Times) UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk’s statement to distance the university from a law school symposium on 9/11 has promoted growing faculty backlash over academic freedom.
    — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of symposium
Noun
  • No discussion of nuclear deterrence should ever lose sight of the human lives behind those words.
    — Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Those discussions reveal how employees think and give managers a chance to coach reasoning, not just review the final deliverable.
    — Samir Dutta, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of discussion
Noun
  • Brian Romick, the president of Democratic Majority for Israel, put out an issue framework last month in an attempt to move the conversation from the language to the actual policy.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Miller's attempt to recast the conversation about his divorce echoed efforts by other candidates who are struggling to overcome concerns about their character.
    — Lara Korte The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of conversation
Noun
  • North Bergen officials have been holding seminars and passing out fliers to let residents know about their rights if they're stopped by ICE, including the right to remain silent.
    — Christine Sloan, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • What follows is an edited transcript of the next 30 minutes, during which my family conducted an impromptu seminar on feminism, hypocrisy, and the appropriate amount of clothing to wear while eating cereal.
    — Danielle Pergament, Allure, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of seminar
Noun
  • Giving Americans $1,000 or $5,000 invested in a technology index is a straightforward idea; The source and use of the funds will likely be of great debate.
    — Sarah Cannon, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Congress weighs competing proposals Anthropic’s draft enters a crowded legislative debate over how the United States should regulate frontier AI.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of debate
Noun
  • Recorded at The Stand in New York City, The Guest Spot will see Shaw converse with guests from the stand-up, digital and comedy worlds.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
  • He was known at the Academy for his wit, his writing skills and his Friday Lunch tradition where staff members from various departments would join him to eat and converse.
    — Pat Saperstein, Variety, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of converse
Noun
  • Undoubtedly, the biggest blow was the announcement that the kingdom is postponing its flagship investment conference, the Future Investment Initiative, until next year, although no exact date has been set.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Fraschilla has been calling Big 12 basketball for a quarter-century and knows the conference landscape as well as anybody.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of conference
Noun
  • The consultation, surgical approach and follow-up care may also differ, which can affect the overall cost.
    — Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Norway will now hold a public consultation on the recommendations made in the report, with the central bank due to submit its response in January.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of consultation

Browse Nearby Words

colloquiums
colloquy
collude
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Colloquy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colloquy. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of vocation

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 23

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All