symposium

noun

sym·​po·​sium sim-ˈpō-zē-əm 

 also  -zh(ē-)əm

plural symposia sim-ˈpō-zē-ə 

-zh(ē-)ə

or symposiums

1

a

: a convivial party (as after a banquet in ancient Greece) with music and conversation

b

: a social gathering at which there is free interchange of ideas

2

a

: a formal meeting at which several specialists deliver short addresses on a topic or on related topics compare colloquium

b

: a collection of opinions on a subject

especially : one published by a periodical

c

: discussion

Did you know?

When you hear the word symposium, you may—quite understandably—envision conferences full of intellectuals giving heady presentations on various arcana. But it was drinking, more than thinking, that drew people to the original symposia and gave us the word. Symposium (symposia or symposiums in plural form) comes from the Greek noun symposion, the word ancient Greeks used for a drinking party that follows a banquet. Symposion in turn comes from sympinein, a verb that combines pinein, meaning “to drink,” with the prefix syn-, meaning “together.” Originally, English speakers only used symposium to refer to such an ancient Greek party, but in the 18th century British gentlemen’s clubs started using the word for confabs in which conversation was fueled by drinking. By the end of the 18th century, symposium had gained the more sober sense we know today, referring to meetings in which the focus is more on imbibing ideas and less on imbibing, say, mead.

Synonyms

• colloquy
• conference
• council
• forum
• panel
• panel discussion
• parley
• round-robin
• roundtable
• seminar

Examples of symposium in a Sentence

Professors and graduate students attended the symposium.

recently attended a daylong symposium on new methods of chromatography

Recent Examples on the Web

At its inaugural symposium, the GTLI will introduce ideas for frameworks, standards and certifications aimed at defining what good thought leadership looks like. —Rhea Wessel, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025

Longtime native plant expert and author Carol Bornstein summed it up last October, when San Marcos Growers had its final plant symposium for landscapers, horticulturists, botanists and retail nursery operators. —Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2025

Other states seem to be taking inspiration from Wisconsin—Minnesota, Michigan and others have started cataloging their own canoe archives—while the Society for American Archaeology devoted a symposium last year entirely to the humble dugout. —Jacqueline Kehoe, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Dec. 2024

This involved initially offering to host a series of CAF symposiums where members gathered to discuss new ideas. —Simon Hughes, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek symposion, from sympinein to drink together, from syn- + pinein to drink — more at potable

First Known Use

1711, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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Kids Definition

symposium

noun

sym·​po·​sium sim-ˈpō-zē-əm 

 also  -zh(ē-)əm

plural symposia -zē-ə 

-zh(ē-)ə

or symposiums

1

: a group meeting at which there are several speeches and often a group discussion

2

: a collection of opinions on a subject

Etymology

from earlier symposium "a social gathering at which there is a free exchange of ideas," from Latin symposium "a party with much drinking and conversation," derived from Greek sympinein "to drink together," from syn- "together with" and pinein "to drink" — related to synonymous