convention

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˌkənˈvɛnʃən/ or /ˈkɒnˌvɛnʃən/, SAMPA: /%k@n"vEnS@n/ or /"kQn%vEnS@n/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular convention

Plural conventions

1. A convention is a large meeting of a specific group or for a specific purpose.

   There's a doctor's convention in town this week and all the hotels are full.

   The garden show will be at the convention centre.

2. A convention is an international agreement the controls how countries behave.

   This action goes against the European Convention on Human Rights.

   In my culture, a convention is to eat raw fish.

3. (countable & uncountable) A convention is a particular way of acting or a particular belief of a group of people.

   By convention, people in North America drive on the right hand side of the road.

   There are a set of conventions that every member must observe.

Synonyms

• meeting
• conference

• custom
• habit

• pact
• treaty
• agreement

Related words

• convene
• conventional
• conventionally
• unconventional
• unconventionally