# invitational

/ˌɪnvəˈteɪʃənəɫ/ (US) · /ɪnvɪtˈeɪʃənəl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/invitational
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

describing an event where only people who are specifically asked can join. It is often used for sports or meetings where you need an official invite to participate.

For teachers: restricted to participants who have been specifically invited. Often used to describe competitive events or academic seminars where entry is not open to the general public.

## Examples

- The school is hosting an invitational track meet.
- Only the top ten players in the league were eligible to compete in the year-end invitational tournament.
- The university hosted an invitational symposium, bringing together the world's leading experts in renewable energy to discuss policy shifts without the distractions of a larger, open-access conference.

## Usage notes

- Typically used attributively before a noun like 'tournament', 'meet', or 'conference'.

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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.