conference

/ˈkɒn.fər.əns/
a formal meeting for discussion

The company held a conference to discuss new strategies.

A formal meeting was organized to discuss business strategies.


formal

a formal meeting where people discuss a particular topic

The annual tech conference attracted thousands of attendees.

A yearly event for discussing technology drew a large crowd.

Often used in professional or academic settings.

Sports

a series of games or matches in a sport

The basketball conference finals were intense this year.

The championship series in basketball was highly competitive.

In sports, it refers to a division or league.

Collocations

attend a conferenceto go to a formal meetinghost a conferenceto organize and hold a meetingconference calla phone meeting with multiple participants

Related Phrases

conference callphrase
a phone meeting with multiple participants
conference roomphrase
a room designed for meetings

Pro Tip

Context Matters

The word 'conference' can mean a formal meeting or a sports division. Pay attention to the context to understand the correct meaning.

Gold Rule

Formal vs. Sports

In professional or academic settings, 'conference' refers to a formal meeting. In sports, it refers to a division or league.

Word Origin

From Old French 'conference,' from Latin 'conferentia,' meaning 'comparison, discussion,' from 'conferre' (to bring together).

Usage Notes

Can refer to both formal meetings and sports divisions. Context determines the meaning.

Word Breakdown

con-
together
prefix
+
-fer-
to carry
root
+
-ence
state or condition
suffix
English Dictionary