conference

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'conference' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the word 'conference' when referring to a large gathering of people, typically for the purpose of discussion, debate, or presentations. Example sentence: The company held a conference to discuss the upcoming changes to policy.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Five years ago I stood here and said we had made history here in Brighton," Lucas said to loud cheers inside the Brighton Centre conference venue.

The Guardian

This conference brings together best practice examples, policy leaders and industry experts to discuss the challenges facing social care providers and IT support teams.

The Guardian

Yet that wasn't what we saw on the conference floor during the debate on the economy on Monday.

The Guardian - Opinion

Katherine Bavage is 28-year-old Lib Dem member Nick Clegg's departing message to Lib Dem conference was easy to anticipate: coalition may have been tough for the party but it remains right for the country.

The Guardian - Opinion

At a news conference last week, Christie said he would continue interviewing his senior staff to determine if there is any other information he needs to know and if he needs to take any further action, but he did not indicate his review would go further than that.

The Guardian

Amy Pascal, recently ousted as Sony's co-chairwoman, told a conference it was up to women, not studios, to demand their worth.

The Guardian - Film

In a presentation to the national rural health conference in Darwin last week, Chalmers and Smith reflected on the personal toll the last year took on them and their patients who are primarily from the Rio Tinto community.

The Guardian

"The blatant violations of international humanitarian and human rights law have been pointed out very clearly by the UN's commissioner for human rights," Amos told the Guardian during a visit to Tokyo, where she was attending a conference on improving responses to humanitarian crises in the Asia-Pacific.

The Guardian

When sector leaders gather on Thursday at the annual conference of Skills for Care, the workforce development body for adult social care, the talk is likely to be about an even stiffer potential bill, however.

The Guardian

"After the conference, minister Pato had a follow-up Q&A at which he discussed and took questions in relation to the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua".

The Guardian

The vote is expected at around 5pm UK time but a planned press conference with the winner has been postponed until Saturday morning.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In media and political writing, combine the term with descriptors like 'press', 'news' or 'annual' to provide immediate context for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "conference" for small, informal office meetings. While every "conference" is a meeting, not every meeting warrants the formal weight of being called a "conference". Use it selectively for events with a structured agenda or public-facing intent.

Linguistic Context

The word "conference" primarily serves as a noun, designating a formal meeting for discussion or consultation. As seen in Ludwig examples, it often anchors complex noun phrases such as 'press conference' or 'party conference'. While Ludwig AI also notes its less common usage as a verb (to conference), its presence in modern writing is overwhelmingly substantive.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Social Media

2%

Reference

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "conference" is a versatile and essential term in the English language, used to describe everything from a brief media encounter to an international diplomatic event. Ludwig AI confirms that its usage is highly consistent and correct across all major reliable sources, particularly in journalism. Whether you are discussing a "press conference" regarding global policy or an annual "party conference", the word conveys a sense of formal organization and collective purpose. For writers, it is crucial to distinguish it from smaller-scale meetings or specialized academic "symposium" gatherings to ensure the highest level of precision in professional and formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

convention

Implies a large gathering specifically for members of a profession, political party or hobbyist group.

symposium

Focuses on academic or scientific discussion where several speakers deliver short presentations on a topic.

summit

Refers to a high-level meeting between heads of state or top-tier leaders.

meeting

A more general and often smaller-scale gathering for discussion or decision-making.

colloquium

An academic meeting at which specialists deliver addresses on a topic or related topics.

forum

Emphasizes a place or meeting for the exchange of ideas and public discussion.

seminar

Typically involves a smaller group focusing on learning or intense discussion on a specific subject.

gathering

A more informal term for people coming together for a common purpose.

press briefing

A highly specific type of conference used to inform the media of news or policy changes.

assembly

Implies a formal meeting of people to make decisions or for a common social purpose.

FAQs

What is the difference between a "conference" and a "convention"?

A "convention" is typically larger and focused on a specific group's membership or industry interests, whereas a "conference" often centers on the exchange of information and specific problem-solving.

Can I use "symposium" instead of "conference"?

You can use "symposium" if the event is strictly academic or involves high-level scientific presentations. A "conference" is much broader and covers business, politics and media.

What is a "summit" compared to a "conference"?

A "summit" is a specialized type of high-level "conference" involving top officials or leaders, such as heads of government.

Is there a shorter way to say "news conference"?

In journalism, you can often use "press briefing" or simply 'presser' in informal industry contexts, though "conference" remains the standard formal term.