# colloquium

/kəˈɫoʊkwiəm/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/colloquium
Updated: 2026-09-09

## Senses

### 1. academic seminar

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

a formal meeting at a university where experts or students discuss a specific topic.

For teachers: an academic meeting or seminar, typically featuring a different guest lecturer or topic at each session, intended for high-level discussion.

- The physics department is hosting a colloquium on black holes this Friday.
- The graduate students were required to attend the weekly colloquium to engage with visiting scholars from diverse research backgrounds.

Usage: The plural form is usually 'colloquia', though 'colloquiums' is occasionally accepted.

Teaching tip: In university contexts, this is more formal than a 'workshop' and implies a higher level of scholarly exchange.

### 2. academic address

noun · CEFR C2 · Academic · Formal

a formal talk or speech given at an academic meeting.

For teachers: a formal address or presentation delivered to an academic assembly or seminar.

- Her colloquium on medieval history was well-received by the faculty.
- The professor delivered a brilliant colloquium that challenged existing theories regarding the migration patterns of early hominids.

### 3. legal defamation term

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

a part of a legal case that proves the bad things said were about the person suing.

For teachers: the portion of a defamation complaint that establishes the defamatory words were directed specifically at the plaintiff.

- The lawyer worked on the colloquium to prove the article was about his client.
- The defendant's motion to dismiss was granted because the plaintiff failed to provide a sufficient colloquium linking the generic insults to his specific reputation.

Usage: This is a highly specialized term used almost exclusively in tort law regarding libel and slander.

## Examples

- The university hosts a weekly colloquium on modern history.
- After the main presentation at the colloquium, the floor was opened for a rigorous debate among the visiting scholars.
- The department organized a three-day colloquium to address recent developments in international law, inviting practitioners and academics to share their latest findings.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.