A conference is a meeting, often lasting a few days, which is organized on a particular subject or to bring together people who have a common interest.
The President summoned all the state governors to a conference on education. [+ on]
...the Conservative Party conference.
Last weekend the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland held a conference, attended by450 delegates.
Synonyms: meeting, congress, discussion, convention More Synonyms of conference
2. countable noun [oft inNOUN]
A conference is a meeting at which formal discussions take place.
They sat down at the dinner table, as they always did, before the meal, for a conference.
Her employer was in conference with two lawyers and did not want to be interrupted.
3. See also press conference
conference in British English
(ˈkɒnfərəns, -frəns)
noun
1.
a meeting for consultation, exchange of information, or discussion, esp one with a formal agenda
2.
a formal meeting of two or more states, political groups, etc, esp to discuss differences or formulate common policy
3.
an assembly of the clergy or of clergy and laity of any of certain Protestant Christian Churches acting as representatives of their denomination
the Methodist conference
4. sport
a league or division of clubs or teams
5. rare
an act of bestowal
Derived forms
conferential (ˌkɒnfəˈrɛnʃəl)
adjective
Word origin
C16: from Medieval Latin conferentia, from Latin conferre to bring together; see confer
conference in American English
(ˈkɑnfərəns; ˈkɑnfrəns; for 6 kənˈfɜrəns)
noun
1.
the act of conversing or consulting on a serious matter
2.
a formal meeting of a number of people for discussion or consultation
3.
a meeting of committees from both branches of a legislature to reconcile the differences between bills passed by both branches
4. [oftenC-]
a.
a national or district governing body of the Methodist Church
b.
a national or district association of Mennonite or certain other Protestant churches
c.
a district governed or represented by a conference
5.
a national or regional association, as of colleges or their athletic teams
6.
a conferral; bestowal
: also sp. conˈferrence
verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈconferenced or ˈconferencing
7.
to participate in or hold a conference
8.
to confer, usually over some distance, by means of an electronic communications system or computer network
Derived forms
conferencing (ˈconferencing)
noun
conferential (ˌconferˈential) (ˌkɑnfərˈɛnʃəl)
adjective
Word origin
Fr conférence < ML conferentia < L conferens, prp. of conferre: see confer
Examples of 'conference' in a sentence
conference
This will allow it to organise conferences and meetings and prepare relevant documents for negotiations.
Computing (2010)
The damage inflicted at the Conservative conference has been done.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A consultation on the student visa regime promised at the Conservative conference will now not be published until the new year.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We used one of the conference rooms and my husband accompanied me.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It was just before the main dinner of the conference.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We had no agenda at that conference.
Christianity Today (2000)
Instead we met in conference rooms to discuss the issues of the day.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Most journalists who talk to players and managers outside formal press conferences are complicit in this.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
At the conference we also discussed training in outline.
Stewart, Bob (Lt-Col) Broken Lives (1993)
This could involve anything from international media interviews and conferences to meetings with local business or council leaders.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There was no formal press conference.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He suggests combining meetings with industry conferences and exhibitions as a way of networking and raising your profile as an international player.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
On its opening day the Conservative conference has already chosen its star.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Coincidentally, the agenda for the conference set some time ago is on housing.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
A formal press conference will be held tomorrow.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The package also offers a reserved seat for the leader's speech and a place at the conference dinner.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But the conference will bring no new money to the fight, and money is what is most urgently needed on the front line.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
A performing figurehead to rub shoulders with clients at dinners and conferences, certainly.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Next press conference I will bring you nice glasses.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The pledge was made at the Conservative conference in Birmingham.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
conference
British English: conference /ˈkɒnfərəns; -frəns/ NOUN
A conference is a meeting, often lasting a few days, which is organized on a particular subject.
...a conference on education.
American English: conference
Arabic: مُؤْتـَمَر
Brazilian Portuguese: conferência
Chinese: 会议
Croatian: konferencija
Czech: konference
Danish: konference
Dutch: conferentie
European Spanish: conferencia reunión
Finnish: konferenssi
French: conférence
German: Konferenz
Greek: σύσκεψη
Italian: conferenza
Japanese: 会議
Korean: 회의
Norwegian: konferanse
Polish: konferencja
European Portuguese: conferência
Romanian: conferință
Russian: конференция
Latin American Spanish: conferencia
Swedish: konferens
Thai: การสัมมนา
Turkish: konferans
Ukrainian: конференція
Vietnamese: hội nghị
All related terms of 'conference'
case conference
a meeting at which all the parties involved in a medical , legal, or social work case come together to discuss it
conference call
A conference call is a phone call in which more than two people take part.
Conference pear
a variety of pear that has sweet and juicy fruit
conference room
A conference room is a large room in a hotel where a number of people can have a conference.
news conference
A news conference is a meeting held by a famous or important person in which they answer journalists ' questions .
web conference
a conference in which participants in distant locations are able to communicate with each other by logging into a website
audio conference
a meeting that is conducted by the use of audio telecommunications
conference centre
a large venue designed for conferences often consisting of a large hall as well as a number of smaller lecture rooms and other facilities
conference speech
A speech is a formal talk which someone gives to an audience .
conference table
a large table , often rectangular , around which a number of people may be seated , as when holding a conference
Lambeth Conference
the decennial conference of Anglican bishops, begun in 1867
peace conference
a conference where representatives of warring governments or countries sign a treaty to end conflict
press conference
A press conference is a meeting held by a famous or important person in which they answer journalists ' questions .
sales conference
a meeting where members of one or several sales teams , perhaps of different companies, are brought together to discuss issues and problems concerning sales
summit conference
the highest point or part, esp of a mountain or line of communication ; top
video conference
A video-conference is a meeting that takes place using video conferencing .
conference committee
a committee made up of members from both houses whose task is to eliminate any differences between versions of legislation on the same subject passed in the different chambers
conference facilities
Conference facilities are large rooms and pieces of equipment that a hotel provides so an organization can have conference there.
Bretton Woods Conference
an international monetary conference held in 1944 at Bretton Woods in New Hampshire , which resulted in the establishment of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund
meetings and conference manager
A meetings and conference manager at a hotel is responsible for organizing business meetings and conferences there.
Chinese translation of 'conference'
conference
(ˈkɔnfərəns)
n(c)
(= meeting) 会(會)议(議) (huìyì) (次, cì)
to be in conference在开(開)会(會) (zài kāihuì)
(noun)
Definition
a meeting for formal consultation or discussion
The president summoned the state governors to a conference on education.
Synonyms
meeting
I travel to London regularly for business meetings.
congress
A lot has changed since the party congress.
discussion
There was a discussion about the wording of the report.
convention
I flew to Boston to attend the annual convention of the Parapsychological Association.
forum
a forum where problems could be discussed
consultation
Next week she'll be in Florida for consultations with her Mexican counterpart.
seminar
a series of half-day seminars
symposium
He had been taking part in an international symposium on population.
hui (New Zealand)
He arranged a hui which called together a broad span of Māori tribes and opinions.
convocation
a convocation of bishops
colloquium
Additional synonyms
in the sense of congress
Definition
a formal meeting of representatives for discussion
A lot has changed since the party congress.
Synonyms
meeting,
council,
conference,
diet,
assembly,
convention,
conclave,
legislative assembly,
convocation (formal),
hui (New Zealand),
runanga (New Zealand)
in the sense of consultation
Definition
the act of consulting
Next week she'll be in Florida for consultations with her Mexican counterpart.
Synonyms
discussion,
talk,
council,
conference,
dialogue
in the sense of convention
Definition
a large formal assembly of a group with common interests
I flew to Boston to attend the annual convention of the Parapsychological Association.