English Reference

Word

convocation

Phoneticscon·vo·ca·tion

US/ˌkɑnvəˈkeɪʃən/

UK/kɒnvəkˈeɪʃən/

Definition

n. a formal meeting of a large group of people, especially students or members of a church. It is often a special event where people gather for a ceremony or to make important decisions.

n. a formal assembly or meeting of a large group, such as a university faculty or a congregation. Often used to describe the formal ceremony of awarding academic degrees.

Examples

“The university held a convocation to honor the new graduates.”

“The convocation was attended by hundreds of students and their families, marking the end of their academic journey.”

“The convocation served not only as a ceremonial event but also as a platform for the university to announce its new strategic goals for the coming decade.”

Examples

simple

“The university held a convocation to honor the new graduates.”

contextual

“The convocation was attended by hundreds of students and their families, marking the end of their academic journey.”

complex

“The convocation served not only as a ceremonial event but also as a platform for the university to announce its new strategic goals for the coming decade.”

Real-World Examples

“Students from two premier law universities say they don't want Chief Justice Surya Kant to attend their convocations.”
BBC News · 18 Aug 2026
“A newly enforced dress code prohibits students from wearing “revealing clothing in class, to the cafeteria or in official settings like Convocation.”
The Guardian · 11 Aug 2026

Etymology

From Middle English convocacioun, from Old French convocation, from Latin convocatio, convocationem.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference