Meaning & use
conclave
Last updated
A private, often secretive meeting, especially the assembly of Catholic cardinals who elect a new pope.
See it in a sentence
The company's leaders held a conclave to decide on the merger.
Cardinals gathered in Rome for the conclave to choose the next pope.
A note on using this word
Outside its religious meaning, "conclave" is used more loosely for any closed, private meeting of an inner group.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “conclave”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.