mass meeting: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal / Political / Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “mass meeting” mean?
A large, organized gathering of people for discussion, speeches, or to make collective decisions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large, organized gathering of people for discussion, speeches, or to make collective decisions.
Any large assembly called to address a specific issue, often of political, social, or community importance, where the size of the gathering is intended to demonstrate support or unity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar. 'Rally' or 'demonstration' may be more common in American English for explicitly political gatherings, while 'mass meeting' retains a slightly more formal, organized tone.
Connotations
In both varieties, it suggests formality and purpose. In British historical/political context, it may be associated with trade union or labour movement gatherings.
Frequency
Low-to-medium frequency in both. More common in historical, political, or journalistic contexts than in everyday conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “mass meeting” in a Sentence
The [group] held/called a mass meeting [to + infinitive (e.g., to protest the decision)].A mass meeting of [participants] was convened [place].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mass meeting” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The union leaders decided to mass-meet the workers in the city square.
- Protesters will mass-meet outside Parliament.
American English
- The community plans to mass-meet at the courthouse steps.
- Activists mass-met to coordinate their response.
adverb
British English
- [Not standard. Usage is extremely rare/non-existent.]
American English
- [Not standard. Usage is extremely rare/non-existent.]
adjective
British English
- The mass-meeting agenda was circulated in advance.
- They adopted a mass-meeting format for the consultation.
American English
- The mass-meeting dynamics changed when the mayor arrived.
- They used a mass-meeting approach to build consensus.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used in the context of a company-wide assembly during a crisis.
Academic
Used in history, political science, and sociology to describe historical or contemporary political assemblies.
Everyday
Uncommon. Would be replaced by 'big meeting', 'town hall', or 'rally'.
Technical
Specific term in political organizing and union activities.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mass meeting”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mass meeting”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mass meeting”
- Using it for any large informal gathering (e.g., 'We had a mass meeting of friends at the pub.'). Confusing it with 'mass' as a religious service ('mass').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Very similar, but a 'rally' often has a stronger emphasis on demonstrating enthusiasm or support for a cause or person. A 'mass meeting' can be more about discussion and decision-making, though the terms overlap significantly.
It's unusual. Terms like 'all-hands meeting', 'company-wide meeting', or 'town hall' are more standard in corporate settings. 'Mass meeting' retains a political or community flavour.
Scale and implication. A 'meeting' can be any size and purpose. A 'mass meeting' specifically denotes a very large gathering, almost always for a formal, public, and collective purpose.
No. Here, 'mass' is an adjective meaning 'involving or affecting a large number of people or things'. It comes from the same root (Latin 'massa') but is distinct from the religious ceremony.
A large, organized gathering of people for discussion, speeches, or to make collective decisions.
Mass meeting is usually formal / political / journalistic in register.
Mass meeting: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmæs ˈmiːtɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmæs ˈmitɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly associated. The term itself functions as a fixed noun phrase.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'mass' of people all 'meeting' together for one big, important purpose, like a sea of faces at a protest.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE COLLECTIVE IS A FORCE (implied by 'mass'); A MEETING IS A CONTAINER (for collective will/decision).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'mass meeting' LEAST likely to be used?