/ kənˈvenʃn; NAmE / noun
1.
[ C , U ] the way in which sth is done that most people in a society expect and consider to be polite or the right way to do it :
social conventions
By convention the deputy leader was always a woman.
She is a young woman who enjoys flouting conventions.
2.
[ C ] a large meeting of the members of a profession, a political party, etc.
SYN conference :
to hold a convention
the Democratic Party Convention (= to elect a candidate for president)
3.
[ C ] an official agreement between countries or leaders :
the Geneva convention
the United Nations convention on the rights of the child
4.
[ C , U ] a traditional method or style in literature, art or the theatre :
the conventions of Greek tragedy
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in sense 2): via Old French from Latin conventio(n-) meeting, covenant, from the verb convenire assemble, agree, fit, from con- together + venire come. Sense 1 dates from the late 18th cent.