Meeting vs Session
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Meeting
Session
| Meeting | Session | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈmiːtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈmiːtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈseʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈseʃn/"]/ |
| Meaning | A gathering of people to discuss something. | A period of time when people meet to do something, like a class or a meeting. |
| Example | We scheduled a meeting for tomorrow morning. | She attended a fascinating session on climate change. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | 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, 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 with | lengthy, 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 |
| Antonyms | dispersal, separation | break, intermission |
| Common mistakes | Confused 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 notes | Use '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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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.