convention
noun
con·ven·tion
kən-ˈven(t)-shən 
1
b
: an agreement between states for regulation of matters affecting all of them
an international convention banning the spread of nuclear weapons
c
: a compact between opposing commanders especially concerning prisoner exchange or armistice
d
: a general agreement about basic principles or procedures
also
: a principle or procedure accepted as true or correct by convention
the conventions of grammar
2
a
: the summoning or convening of an assembly
b
: an assembly of persons met for a common purpose
a comic book convention
especially
: a meeting of the delegates of a political party for the purpose of formulating a platform and selecting candidates for office
c
: the usually state or national organization of a religious denomination
3
a
: usage or custom especially in social matters
conventions of society
b
: a rule of conduct or behavior
c
: a practice in bidding or playing that conveys information between partners in a card game (such as bridge)
d
: an established technique, practice, or device (as in the theater)
The usual romantic conventions made the film predictable.
Synonyms
Examples of convention in a Sentence
We go to the weeklong annual teachers' convention every summer.
He bought some new books at the science fiction convention.
The Democratic National Convention will meet next week to announce their party's candidate for president.
It's important to follow the conventions of punctuation in a paper for school.
They say school is just as important for teaching children social codes and conventions as for teaching math.
Many sports shows have recently adopted the conventions of the talk show.
a poet who rebels against literary convention
The award that by convention should have gone to the student with the highest grade went instead to the teacher's favorite.
As a matter of convention, the oldest members speak first.
The director's use of the usual romantic conventions made the film boring and predictable.
Recent Examples on the Web
If Trump emerges from Milwaukee with anything like a convention bounce, the Democratic panic will be hard to contain.
—
W. James Antle Iii, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 July 2024
But convention attendees looking to keep the party going until dawn might find their options are mixed.
—Maia Pandey, Journal Sentinel, 10 July 2024
Voting doesn’t start until September, and there will be two nominating conventions and the Olympics to shift the conversation among the electorate.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 10 July 2024
But a source familiar with the planning said DeSantis won’t have a spot on the convention stage during the four-day affair.
—Zac Anderson, USA TODAY, 10 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for convention 
W. James Antle Iii, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 July 2024
But convention attendees looking to keep the party going until dawn might find their options are mixed.
—Maia Pandey, Journal Sentinel, 10 July 2024
Voting doesn’t start until September, and there will be two nominating conventions and the Olympics to shift the conversation among the electorate.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 10 July 2024
But a source familiar with the planning said DeSantis won’t have a spot on the convention stage during the four-day affair.
—Zac Anderson, USA TODAY, 10 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for convention
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'convention.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Convention.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/convention. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
convention
noun
con·ven·tion
kən-ˈven-chən
1
: agreement sense 2a, covenant
an international convention banning the spread of nuclear weapons
2
: a meeting of persons for a common purpose
a constitutional convention
teachers' convention
3
: a custom or a way of acting or doing things that is widely accepted and followed
the conventions of punctuation
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