Conference — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈkän-f(ə-)rən(t)s/ con·fer·ence

Meaning & Definition of Conference

Conference (noun)

  1. a meeting of two or more persons for discussing matters of common concern
  2. a usually formal interchange of views, consultation
  3. a meeting of members of the two branches of a legislature to adjust differences

Conference (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a body of people come together in one place

    "the conference voted to conclude that day's meeting and to resume discussions the next morning"

    similar: assemblage, assembly, congregation, convocation, gathering, ingathering, meeting, muster
    related: company, consort, coterie, gang, pack, caucus, forum, market, panel, rally, symposium, synod, audience, gallery, grandstand, house, crowd, flock, horde, legion, multitude, press, swarm, throng, crush, mob, rabble, rabblement

  2. a meeting featuring a group discussion

    "a conference on the need for international cooperation in combating emerging viruses"

    similar: colloquy, council, forum, panel, panel discussion, parley, round-robin, roundtable, seminar, symposium
    related: colloquium, caucus, town meeting, assembly, conclave, congregation, congress, consistory, convention, convocation, synod, debate, deliberation, brainstorming, chat room, newsgroup

  3. an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue

    "a parent-teacher conference to discuss a student having trouble in school"

    similar: argument, argumentation, argy-bargy (chiefly British), back-and-forth, colloquy, confab, confabulation, consult, consultation, council, counsel, debate, deliberation, dialogue, discussion, give-and-take, palaver, parley, talk
    related: bull session, chat room, forum, meeting, roundtable, seminar, skull session, symposium, talkathon, chat, conversation, rap, words, discourse, disquisition, bargaining, consultancy, negotiation, pourparler

Related Entry: Conference call (noun)

Conference call is a different word from Conference. The synonyms below are for conference call, not for conference.

  1. as in message, cold call

    similar: callback, cold call, message, toll call, voice mail, buzz, call, ring

Related Entry: Conference calls (noun)

Conference calls is a different word from Conference. The synonyms below are for conference calls, not for conference.

  1. as in messages, cold calls

    similar: callbacks, cold calls, messages, toll calls, voice mails, buzzes, calls, rings

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Conference

The most common words with a similar meaning to Conference:

Chiefly British: argy-bargy
assemblage, assembly, congregation, convocation, gathering, ingathering, meeting, muster, colloquy, council, forum, panel, panel discussion, parley, round-robin, roundtable, seminar, symposium, argument, argumentation, back-and-forth, confab, confabulation, consult, consultation, counsel, debate, deliberation, dialogue, discussion, give-and-take, palaver, talk

Related Words for Conference

company, consort, coterie, gang, pack, caucus, market, rally, synod, audience, gallery, grandstand, house, crowd, flock, horde, legion, multitude, press, swarm, throng, crush, mob, rabble, rabblement, colloquium, town meeting, conclave, congress, consistory

Word Forms of Conference

Derived words: conferential (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Conference

borrowed from Middle French and Medieval Latin; Middle French conference, borrowed from Medieval Latin conferentia "contribution, discussion," noun derivative from conferent-, conferens, present participle of conferre "to bring or take, convey, bring together" confer

First known use: 1527

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Conference

Words & Phrases Containing Conference

conference call, news conference, press conference

Frequently Asked Questions about Conference

What does "Conference" mean?

"Conference" means a meeting of two or more persons for discussing matters of common concern. As a noun, it is defined as: a meeting of two or more persons for discussing matters of common concern. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Conference"?

Other words for "Conference" include assemblage, assembly, congregation, convocation, gathering, ingathering, meeting and muster. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Conference" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Conference"?

There are 81 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Conference". Common alternatives include assemblage, assembly, congregation, convocation, gathering, ingathering, meeting, muster, colloquy and council.

How do you use "Conference" in a sentence?

Examples of "Conference" in a sentence: "the conference voted to conclude that day's meeting and to resume discussions the next morning"; "a conference on the need for international cooperation in combating emerging viruses"; "a parent-teacher conference to discuss a student having trouble in school".

Is "Conference" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Conference" is a noun.

Is "Conference" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Conference" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Conference"?

"Conference" is pronounced /ˈkän-f(ə-)rən(t)s/ and divided into syllables as con·fer·ence.

What is the origin of the word "Conference"?

"Conference" comes from borrowed from Middle French and Medieval Latin; Middle French conference, borrowed from Medieval Latin conferentia "contribution, discussion," noun derivative from conferent-, conferens, present participle of conferre "to bring or take, convey, bring together" confer. First known use: 1527.