Is meeting formal or informal?

It can be both. In business and school contexts, it is usually fairly formal.

What's the difference between meeting and gathering?

A meeting has a clear purpose, like discussing or deciding something. A gathering is often more social.

Can I say a meeting with one person?

Yes, if it is a planned discussion. For example, a meeting with your manager is natural.

How do I use meeting in a sentence?

Use it as a noun: 'I have a meeting after lunch.'

← Dictionary

meeting

/ˈmiː.tɪŋ/

IELTSAcademic

noun

A meeting is an event where people gather to discuss something, make decisions, or plan work. It can be formal or informal, and it often has a clear purpose.

We have a team meeting at 10 a.m.
The meeting lasted only twenty minutes.
She called a meeting to discuss the budget.

Adinary Nuance

A meeting is usually a planned gathering with a purpose. It is more neutral than gathering, which can be social, and more specific than talk, which is less formal. In business or academic English, meeting often means a scheduled discussion with an agenda.

In other languages

Vietnamese: cuộc họp
Spanish: reunión
Chinese: 会议
Japanese: 会議
Korean: 회의

Etymology

Meeting comes from the Old English verb metan, meaning “to meet.” The noun use became common in English by the Middle Ages.

Common phrases

team meetingbusiness meetingmeeting roommeeting agenda

Synonyms

gathering conference session

Related words

agenda discussion appointment interview

Frequently asked questions

Is meeting formal or informal?: It can be both. In business and school contexts, it is usually fairly formal.
What's the difference between meeting and gathering?: A meeting has a clear purpose, like discussing or deciding something. A gathering is often more social.
Can I say a meeting with one person?: Yes, if it is a planned discussion. For example, a meeting with your manager is natural.
How do I use meeting in a sentence?: Use it as a noun: 'I have a meeting after lunch.'