convention

convention — noun

1. A gathering of many people who share the same profession, political party, or in

1.nounB2
Definition

A gathering of many people who share the same profession, political party, or interest, held regularly to discuss shared concerns and make decisions.

Example

Talia attended the annual teachers' convention in Chicago to learn about new classroom methods.

annual + [profession]'s convention

The party will hold its national convention in July to choose the next presidential candidate.

national convention for political candidate selection

Common collocations
  • attend a convention
  • annual convention
  • national convention
  • convention center
  • party convention
Synonyms
  • conference

    Often smaller or more focused on discussion; less emphasis on regular repetition

  • assembly

    More general term; may be less formal and not necessarily annual

  • gathering

    Less formal and less structured than a convention

Grammar Patterns

convention + of + [people/profession]

convention + for + [purpose]

Usage Note

Frequently modified by a profession or group name (teachers' convention, medical convention, party convention). Often preceded by annual, national, or international.

Common Mistakes

I went to a convention with my friends to watch a movie last night.
I went to a convention for science teachers to discuss the new curriculum.
Convention in this sense refers to a formal professional or political meeting, not an informal social outing.

2. An event where enthusiasts of a particular television show, film, book, game, or

2.nounB1
Definition

An event where enthusiasts of a particular television show, film, book, game, or related interest come together to celebrate it, buy merchandise, and often meet people involved in its creation.

Example

Feng spent the whole weekend at the anime convention dressed as his favorite character.

[genre] convention + dressed as character

The Star Wars convention in Tokyo attracted fans from all over East Asia.

Common collocations
  • comic convention
  • anime convention
  • gaming convention
  • convention hall
Synonyms
  • expo

    More product- and business-oriented; less emphasis on fan community

  • fan meet-up

    Smaller and less organized than a convention

Grammar Patterns

[genre/media] + convention

Usage Note

Commonly preceded by the name of the franchise, genre, or medium (comic convention, anime convention, gaming convention). Contrast with sense 1 — this sense is hobby- and fan-oriented rather than professional or political.

Common Mistakes

I attended a Harry Potter convention of wizards to discuss magical theory.
I attended a Harry Potter convention to buy collectibles and meet other fans.
Fan conventions are real-world events for enthusiasts, not role-playing gatherings.

3. An accepted and expected way of behaving within a community, usually followed wi

3.nounB2
Definition

An accepted and expected way of behaving within a community, usually followed without conscious thought because it has long been considered normal or polite.

Example

It is a social convention to shake hands when you meet someone for the first time in many Western countries.

it is a [social] convention to + [verb]

Tanvi found it difficult to adjust to the local conventions when she moved to a new country for work.

Common collocations
  • social convention
  • by convention
  • break with convention
  • convention of doing something
Synonyms
  • custom

    More specific to a particular group or place; may be stronger or more formal

  • tradition

    Implies longer history and stronger emotional or cultural value

  • norm

    Describes what is statistically average or typical, not necessarily a rule

  • etiquette

    Specifically about polite or correct behavior in formal settings

Antonyms
  • rebellion

    Active rejection of social conventions

  • innovation

    New way of doing things that breaks from convention

Grammar Patterns

it is a convention to + [verb]

[social] convention of + [verb]-ing

by convention

Usage Note

Often refers to unwritten social expectations rather than legal requirements. Distinguish from sense 5, where convention means a written, legally binding agreement between states.

Common Mistakes

It is a convention to stop at a red light.
It is the law to stop at a red light; it is a convention to hold the door open for the person behind you.
Conventions are socially agreed customs, not legal or traffic rules.

4. A widely used technique, style, or way of representing something in a particular

4.nounC1
Definition

A widely used technique, style, or way of representing something in a particular form of art, literature, theatre, or film that most creators in that tradition follow.

Example

In medieval paintings, the convention of showing holy figures with a golden halo was very common.

convention of + [verb]-ing in art

The director broke the convention of having a happy ending and let the film finish on a sad note.

Common collocations
  • artistic convention
  • literary convention
  • break the convention
  • follow a convention
Synonyms
  • tradition

    Broader — may include subject matter as well as technique

  • technique

    More technical; does not imply shared acceptance by a community of practitioners

  • device

    A specific tool or method within a work; narrower than convention

Antonyms
  • innovation

    A new technique that departs from established conventions

Grammar Patterns

[artistic/literary] convention

convention of + [verb]-ing

Usage Note

Restricted to discussions of artistic and literary traditions. Contrast with sense 3 — this sense is domain-specific and refers to how things are represented, not how people behave in daily life.

Common Mistakes

It is an artistic convention to say please and thank you in Japan.
In Japanese woodblock prints, the convention of using bold outlines is a key feature of the style.
Artistic conventions are about representation techniques, not social behavior.

5. A written agreement signed by several nations or governments that establishes ru

5.nounB2
Definition

A written agreement signed by several nations or governments that establishes rules or standards on a matter of shared concern, such as human rights, trade, or the environment.

Example

The Geneva Convention sets international standards for the treatment of prisoners during wartime.

The [Name] Convention sets standards for [topic]

More than one hundred nations have signed the international convention on climate change.

sign a convention on [topic]

Common collocations
  • sign a convention
  • ratify a convention
  • convention on human rights
  • international convention
Synonyms
  • treaty

    Often bilateral and more specific; not always multilateral like a convention

  • pact

    Slightly less formal; can be between smaller groups or for limited purposes

  • accord

    Emphasises harmony and mutual benefit; may be broader in scope

  • protocol

    A supplementary agreement to an existing convention, often more technical

Grammar Patterns

convention on + [topic]

convention + between + [nations]

ratify/sign a convention

Usage Note

A written, legally binding agreement between states, often multilateral. Frequently capitalized as part of a proper name (the Geneva Convention, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea). Distinguish from sense 3, which refers to unwritten social customs.

Common Mistakes

The two friends signed a convention to share their toys.
The two countries signed a convention on cross-border trade.
A convention in this sense is a formal international agreement between governments, not a personal arrangement.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/3

Convention (sense 3) refers to an accepted way of behaving that most people follow without much thought — it is the broadest term here and often implies a degree of social pressure. Custom is more specific to a particular group, place, or occasion (e.g. the custom of giving red envelopes at Lunar New Year) and often carries more emotional weight. Tradition adds a sense of long history and cultural importance; people follow traditions deliberately, not just automatically. Norm describes what is statistically typical or statistically expected (e.g. it is the norm to finish work at six), without the moral or polite dimension that convention carries. Etiquette is the narrowest — it governs polite behavior in formal settings, such as table manners or greeting protocols. In practice: 'It is a convention to stand when a guest enters' (general social rule), but 'it is bad etiquette to check your phone at the dinner table' (specific politeness rule).

custom ↗tradition ↗norm ↗etiquette ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • convention center
  • convention hall
  • convention-goer
  • convention attendee
  • convention delegate

Adverbs

Phrases

  • by convention
  • convention of doing something
  • break with convention
  • convention dictates that

Prepositions

  • by convention
  • at a convention
  • under the convention
  • convention on

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Convention comes from the Latin word conventio, meaning 'a meeting, assembly, or agreement,' which in turn comes from convenire, meaning 'to come together' (com- 'together' + venire 'to come'). The word entered English in the late 1300s through Old French, first carrying the sense of a formal meeting. By the 1500s it had developed the meaning of an unwritten social rule or custom — the idea being that such rules arise when people 'come together' and agree on how to behave. The international-treaty sense appeared in the 1800s as nations began signing formal multilateral agreements.