conclave
noun
con·clave
ˈkän-ˌklāv 
1
: a private meeting or secret assembly
especially
: a meeting of Roman Catholic cardinals secluded continuously while choosing a pope
The conclave elected the new pope on the fifth ballot.
2
: a gathering of a group or association
the annual conclave of newspaper publishers
Did you know?
Conclave comes from a Latin word meaning "room that can be locked up" (from the Latin com-, "together," and clavis, "key"). The English conclave formerly had the same meaning, but that use is now obsolete. Today, conclave refers not to the locked rooms but to the private meetings and secret assemblies that occur within them. The meaning of conclave has also expanded to include gatherings that are not necessarily secret or private but simply involve people with shared interests.
Examples of conclave in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While the longest conclave on record lasted over two full years in the 13th century, there’s reason to believe this year’s process will move more swiftly—at least if 2013’s two-day conclave is any indication.
—
Emma Specter, Vogue, 22 Apr. 2025
This conclave is going to be crucial for deciding the future direction of the Roman Catholic Church, and the field of candidates is wide open thanks to Pope Francis’ reforms.
—Alicia Johnson, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2025
But as past conclaves have illustrated, frequently the choice is unexpected.
— Made By History, Time, 22 Apr. 2025
The camerlengo takes over the day-to-day operations of the Vatican during the sede vacante, the period between the death of the pope and the election of the new pope, in addition to preparing the papal conclave.
—James Powel, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
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Emma Specter, Vogue, 22 Apr. 2025
This conclave is going to be crucial for deciding the future direction of the Roman Catholic Church, and the field of candidates is wide open thanks to Pope Francis’ reforms.
—Alicia Johnson, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2025
But as past conclaves have illustrated, frequently the choice is unexpected.
— Made By History, Time, 22 Apr. 2025
The camerlengo takes over the day-to-day operations of the Vatican during the sede vacante, the period between the death of the pope and the election of the new pope, in addition to preparing the papal conclave.
—James Powel, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conclave
Cite this Entry
“Conclave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conclave. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
conclave
noun
con·clave
ˈkän-ˌklāv
: a private or secret meeting or assembly
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