Conclave: meaning, definitions and examples

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conclave

 

[ ˈkɒŋkleɪv ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

meeting, assembly

A conclave is a private meeting or assembly, especially one held for the purpose of making important decisions. The term is most commonly associated with the gathering of cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church to elect a new pope. However, it can also refer to any gathering of individuals who come together to discuss or decide on matters of significance. The atmosphere at a conclave is often characterized by secrecy and confidentiality.

Synonyms

assembly, conference, council, gathering, meeting

Examples of usage

  • The conclave convened to elect the new leader.
  • A conclave of experts met to tackle the urgent issues facing the community.
  • During the conclave, strict measures were taken to ensure privacy.

Translations

Translations of the word "conclave" in other languages:

🇵🇹 conclave

🇮🇳 संपन्न

🇩🇪 Konklave

🇮🇩 konklaf

🇺🇦 конклав

🇵🇱 konklawe

🇯🇵 コンクラーヴェ

🇫🇷 conclave

🇪🇸 conclave

🇹🇷 konklev

🇰🇷 콘클라베

🇸🇦 كونكلave

🇨🇿 konkláve

🇸🇰 konkláv

🇨🇳 教宗选举会议

🇸🇮 konklave

🇮🇸 konklaví

🇰🇿 конклав

🇬🇪 კონკლავი

🇦🇿 konklav

🇲🇽 cónclave

Word origin

The word 'conclave' originates from the Latin term 'conclavis', meaning 'locked room' or 'enclosed space'. This Latin root is derived from 'con-' meaning 'with' and 'clavis' meaning 'key'. The term was historically used to denote the environment in which cardinals would gather, often in a locked room to ensure that they could not be influenced by outside forces during the papal election process. The practice of holding a conclave for electing a pope became formalized in the 13th century, and the term itself has evolved to signify various types of private gatherings where important decisions are made under conditions of secrecy.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #24,865, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.