plural forums also fora
ˈfȯr-ə 
1
a
: the marketplace or public place of an ancient Roman city forming the center of judicial and public business
b
: a public meeting place for open discussion
The club provides a forum for people interested in local history.
c
: a medium (such as a newspaper or online service) of open discussion or expression of ideas
2
: a judicial body or assembly : court
3
a
: a public meeting or lecture involving audience discussion
The town has scheduled a public forum to discuss the proposal.
b
: a program (as on radio or television) involving discussion of a problem usually by several authorities
Synonyms
Examples of forum in a Sentence
Forums were held to determine how to handle the situation.
The town has scheduled a public forum to discuss the proposal.
The club provides a forum for people who share an interest in local history.
Recent Examples on the Web
The forum for statements was supported by lawyers for the archdiocese, which includes about 480,000 Catholics in Baltimore and Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard and Washington counties.
—
Steve Thompson, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024
The forum will look at Haiti’s economy and the ways the diaspora can help, as well as how to leverage its political clout in the United States to effect change back home.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024
During the forum, public health experts lauded the county for recognizing social isolation and loneliness as a health risk.
—Ryan MacAsero, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
The forum also included participants from Brazil, Germany and Spain.
—Kat Tenbarge, NBC News, 3 Apr. 2024
Har spoke to Reuters from the headquarters in Tel Aviv for the forum of families of hostages in Gaza.
—Fox News, 2 Apr. 2024
Fed Chair Jerome Powell participates in a forum at Stanford University.
—Bryan Mena, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024
Prestonwood has a history of political involvement, such as hosting and promoting a forum for Republic presidential candidates in 2016.
—James Hartley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2024
Events the university planned on campus to counterprogram against Rittenhouse's forum weren't enough, organizer Malick Diallo added.
—The Courier-Journal, 28 Mar. 2024
Steve Thompson, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024
The forum will look at Haiti’s economy and the ways the diaspora can help, as well as how to leverage its political clout in the United States to effect change back home.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024
During the forum, public health experts lauded the county for recognizing social isolation and loneliness as a health risk.
—Ryan MacAsero, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
The forum also included participants from Brazil, Germany and Spain.
—Kat Tenbarge, NBC News, 3 Apr. 2024
Har spoke to Reuters from the headquarters in Tel Aviv for the forum of families of hostages in Gaza.
—Fox News, 2 Apr. 2024
Fed Chair Jerome Powell participates in a forum at Stanford University.
—Bryan Mena, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024
Prestonwood has a history of political involvement, such as hosting and promoting a forum for Republic presidential candidates in 2016.
—James Hartley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2024
Events the university planned on campus to counterprogram against Rittenhouse's forum weren't enough, organizer Malick Diallo added.
—The Courier-Journal, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'forum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
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Dictionary Entries Near forum
Cite this Entry
“Forum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forum. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
Legal Definition
forum
noun
fo·rum
ˈfō-rəm
1
2
a
: a judicial body or assembly : court
allowed the defendant in a state court action to choose the federal forum by removing the case—M. H. Redish
M. H. Redish
b
: the territorial jurisdiction of a court
due process requires defendant to have minimum level of contacts with forum before personal jurisdiction may be exercised—National Law Journal
National Law Journal
More from Merriam-Webster on forum
Nglish: Translation of forum for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of forum for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about forum
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