convention

The word “convention” means a large formal gathering of people who share a profession, interest, or cause. In plain terms, either a big organised meeting, a formal treaty, or simply "the way things are usually done.".

“Convention” is pronounced kuhn-VEHN-shuhn (/kənˈvɛn.ʃən/ in IPA).

Here is “convention” used in a sentence: “Thousands of fans attended the comic convention.”

“Convention” is a noun.

The word “convention” comes from Latin. From Latin conventio, "a coming together, an agreement," from convenire, "to come together.".

“Convention” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Convention” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large formal gathering of people who share a profession, interest, or cause.

Both are organised gatherings, but a convention is usually larger and broader, drawing everyone connected to a profession, hobby, or cause, often with exhibitions and entertainment. A conference tends to be more focused on presentations, talks, and professional exchange. In practice the words overlap, and usage varies by industry and country.

Conventions cover almost any shared interest. There are industry conventions for professions like medicine or technology, fan conventions for comics, films, and gaming, and political conventions where parties gather to set direction or choose candidates. They typically feature talks, exhibitions, and networking, drawing large crowds to one venue over several days.

Yes. Besides a large gathering, convention can mean an accepted custom or way of doing things — social conventions like shaking hands. It can also mean a formal agreement between states or groups, such as the Geneva Convention. All these senses trace back to the idea of coming together or agreeing.