Meeting vs Session

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Meeting

Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun

Session

Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
Most common: Meeting
 MeetingSession
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈmiːtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈmiːtɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 /["/ˈseʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈseʃn/"]/
MeaningA gathering of people to discuss something.A period of time when people meet to do something, like a class or a meeting.
ExampleWe scheduled a meeting for tomorrow morning.She attended a fascinating session on climate change.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelA1B2
Part of speechnounnoun
Collocationsfrequent, regular, annual, series, have, hold, arrange, go ahead, happen, occur, facilities, hall, house, in a/​the meeting, meeting about, meeting among, the purpose of a meeting, the minutes of a meeting, the chair of a meeting, frequent, regular, annual, series, have, hold, arrange, go ahead, happen, occur, facilities, hall, house, in a/​the meeting, meeting about, meeting among, the purpose of a meeting, the minutes of a meeting, the chair of a meeting, accidental, chance, unexpected, have, meeting withlengthy, long, short, do, have, offer (somebody), take place, last, guitarist, musician, singer, session on, inaugural, opening, closing, hold, attend, boycott, convene, take place, begin, at a/​the session, in a/​the session, in session
Antonymsdispersal, separationbreak, intermission
Common mistakesConfused with 'meting' which is not a word., Used as a verb instead of a noun., Forget to clarify the purpose of the meeting.Confused with 'cession', which refers to giving up rights or property., Using 'sessions' for non-related activities; ensure it's an organized event., Mispronouncing as 'sess-shun' instead of 'sess-ion'.
Usage notesUse 'meeting' in both formal and informal contexts. Suitable for work, school, or casual gatherings. Avoid in casual conversations where 'hangout' or 'get-together' might feel more natural.Typically used in academic, business, or therapeutic contexts. Avoid using in casual conversations unless referring to informal gatherings, like a game session.

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Meeting
Session

Frequently asked questions: Meeting vs Session

What's the difference between Meeting and Session?

Meeting: A gathering of people to discuss something. Session: A period of time when people meet to do something, like a class or a meeting.

Which is more common: Meeting and Session?

Meeting is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Meeting and Session?

Session is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Meeting and Session the same CEFR level?

Meeting: A1, Session: B2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Meeting and Session?

Meeting: noun, Session: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Meeting: We scheduled a meeting for tomorrow morning. Session: She attended a fascinating session on climate change.

Can I use Meeting and Session interchangeably?

Not always. Meeting and Session are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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