# forum

/ˈfɔɹəm/ (US) · /fˈɔːɹəm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/forum
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. internet message board

noun · CEFR B1

a website or section of a site where people can post messages and discuss specific topics.

For teachers: an online platform or message board facilitating asynchronous discussion through posted threads and replies.

- I found a helpful answer to my computer problem on a tech forum.
- The developer community maintains an active forum where users can report bugs and suggest new features for the open-source project.

### 2. place for public discussion

noun · CEFR B2

a situation or meeting where people can talk about important subjects and share opinions.

For teachers: a medium or public meeting place for open discussion or the expression of ideas.

- The town hall meeting provided a forum for citizens to voice their concerns.
- The international conference serves as a vital forum for scientists to debate the ethical implications of genetic engineering.

### 3. ancient Roman marketplace

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the central square or marketplace in an ancient Roman city used for public business.

For teachers: the public square or marketplace of an ancient Roman city, serving as the centre of judicial and public business.

- We visited the ruins of the Roman Forum during our trip to Italy.
- Archaeologists discovered several new inscriptions while excavating the forum of the provincial Roman capital.

## Examples

- I found the answer to my computer problem on a tech forum.
- The local council organized a public forum to discuss the new park project with the community.
- While social media has largely replaced traditional message boards, specialized forums remain the primary repository for niche technical knowledge and long-form community discourse.

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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.