Origin: Latin suffix -ence
Conference has 6 different meanings across 1 category:
a prearranged meeting for consultation or exchange of information or discussion (especially one with a formal agenda)
"The CEO called an emergency conference to discuss the quarterly budget before presenting it to the board."
an association of sports teams that organizes matches for its members
"The conference decided to adjust the schedule after several member teams requested a break from their upcoming matches."
a discussion among participants who have an agreed (serious) topic
"The team gathered for a conference to discuss the serious implications of the recent safety failure."
The act of consulting together formally; serious conversation or discussion; interchange of views.
"The orchardist carefully pruned the conference trees to ensure a bountiful harvest of crisp, sweet pears for the winter market."
An autumn cultivar of the European pear Pyrus communis.
In plain English: A conference is a formal meeting where many people gather to discuss specific topics.
"The staff will attend a conference on Monday to discuss the new project plans."
Usage: Use conference to refer to a formal meeting where people gather to discuss specific topics or make decisions. Do not use it to describe the autumn variety of the European pear, which is simply called a conference pear in gardening contexts but remains distinct from the event itself.
To assess (a student) by one-on-one conversation, rather than an examination.
"The teacher decided to conference with me instead of giving a written test so we could discuss my essay in detail."
In plain English: To conference means to talk with someone on the phone by connecting your call to theirs so you can all speak at once.
"The board will conference with the sales team to discuss next quarter's targets."
Usage: Do not use "conference" as a verb in casual conversation to mean meeting or chatting; it specifically refers to the academic practice of assessing a student individually through discussion instead of a written exam. Reserve this term strictly for formal educational contexts where grades are determined by direct dialogue with an instructor.
The word conference comes from Latin, where it originally meant "a bringing together." It traveled into English through Middle French after describing a gathering of people for discussion or agreement.