convention

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A way of behaving or doing things that most people in a group accept as normal.

   It is a social convention to shake hands when you meet someone.

2. 2
   noun

   A large formal meeting of people with shared interests or a shared profession.

   Thousands attended the annual comic book convention.

3. 3
   noun

   A formal agreement or treaty between countries.

   The Geneva Convention sets rules for the treatment of prisoners.

Recorded since about 1440, borrowed from Middle French convention, from Latin conventiō (“meeting, assembling; agreement, convention”), from conveniō (“come, gather or meet together, assemble”), from con- (“with, together”) + veniō (“come”). Equivalent to convene + -tion.

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