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.
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
The arena will host at least 25 G League games, as well as concerts, sports tournaments, conventions and other events.
—
John Tuohy, IndyStar, 22 July 2025
Challenging conventions, the studio’s president Kevin Feige hired a heavyweight cast for Iron Man including Gwyneth Paltrow, Robert Downey Jr and Jeff Bridges.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
The documentary chronicles the lives of a mother and daughter, relatives of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who live together for years, piles of trash accumulating around them, social conventions becoming remote.
—Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 21 July 2025
Then again, the marathon 165-minute performance was at odds with modern conventions in several ways.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for convention
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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John Tuohy, IndyStar, 22 July 2025
Challenging conventions, the studio’s president Kevin Feige hired a heavyweight cast for Iron Man including Gwyneth Paltrow, Robert Downey Jr and Jeff Bridges.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
The documentary chronicles the lives of a mother and daughter, relatives of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who live together for years, piles of trash accumulating around them, social conventions becoming remote.
—Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 21 July 2025
Then again, the marathon 165-minute performance was at odds with modern conventions in several ways.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for convention
Cite this Entry
“Convention.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/convention. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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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