convention
C1Formal / Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A large formal meeting or assembly of people with a shared interest, or a widely accepted way of behaving or doing something.
Also refers to a formal agreement between states or groups, or a customary feature of a particular genre of art/literature (e.g., 'the conventions of romantic comedy').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Sits between 'habit/custom' (more personal/social) and 'rule/law' (more formal/obligatory). Carries a sense of collective agreement, sometimes implying unspoken or traditional adherence.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The 'political convention' sense (e.g., 'Democratic National Convention') is more prominent in US political discourse. In UK, 'conference' is often preferred for business/academic meetings, but 'convention' is standard for large trade gatherings.
Connotations
In both, can imply a lack of originality ('slavish convention').
Frequency
Broadly similar frequency; slightly higher in US due to prominent political usage.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
convention on somethingconvention that + clauseby conventionagainst conventionVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a slave to convention”
- “fly in the face of convention”
- “break the conventions”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to large industry gatherings for networking and exhibitions (e.g., 'tech convention').
Academic
Used for established scholarly practices or international treaties (e.g., 'notational convention', 'the Vienna Convention').
Everyday
Refers to social norms and expectations (e.g., 'It's just a social convention to shake hands.').
Technical
In computing/linguistics, refers to agreed standards (e.g., 'naming conventions', 'coding conventions').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Not applicable; 'convention' is not used as a verb.
American English
- Not applicable; 'convention' is not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable. The adverb is 'conventionally'.
- The room was conventionally furnished.
American English
- Not applicable. The adverb is 'conventionally'.
- She is conventionally attractive.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable. The adjective is 'conventional'.
- He leads a very conventional life.
American English
- Not applicable. The adjective is 'conventional'.
- It was a conventional approach to the problem.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Many people go to the book convention.
- It is a convention to say 'please' and 'thank you'.
- The company sent five employees to the industry convention in Frankfurt.
- He challenged social convention by choosing to be a stay-at-home dad.
- The novel deliberately subverts the conventions of the detective genre.
- By convention, the chairman is elected for a two-year term.
- The signatories are bound by the terms of the international convention on maritime law.
- Her art breaks with aesthetic convention, employing unorthodox materials and techniques.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a VENTION where people CONVENE. They CONVENE to agree on a CONVENTION.
Conceptual Metaphor
AGREEMENT IS A MEETING PLACE (a convention brings minds together); SOCIAL STRUCTURE IS A BUILDING (conventions are the supporting beams).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'конвенция' (the treaty sense) when the meaning is 'собрание' or 'съезд'.
- Do not translate as 'конвенциональный' for 'conventional' in everyday contexts; 'традиционный' or 'принятый' is often better.
- The phrase 'by convention' is often translated as 'по договорённости' or 'условно', not literally.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'convention' for small, informal meetings (use 'meeting' or 'gatherings').
- Confusing 'convention' with 'invention'.
- Overusing the political convention sense in non-US contexts.
- Misspelling as 'convenction'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following uses of 'convention' refers primarily to a formal international agreement?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A 'conference' is generally for discussion/debate (often academic/business). A 'convention' is typically larger, with trade exhibitions and multiple parallel events. A 'congress' is often a formal legislative or diplomatic assembly (e.g., US Congress, an international congress of scientists).
No. It often describes informal, unwritten social norms (e.g., 'the convention of queuing'). Its strength lies in collective, traditional acceptance, not formal codification.
Yes. When paired with words like 'slavish', 'blind', or 'stifling', it implies a restrictive lack of originality or thoughtless adherence to tradition.
Both senses originate from the idea of 'coming together'. A 'meeting' is a physical coming together of people. A 'social rule' is a conceptual 'coming together' or agreement in behaviour/practice.