forum
Americannoun
plural
forums, fora-
the marketplace or public square of an ancient Roman city, the center of judicial and business affairs and a place of assembly for the people.
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a court or tribunal.
the forum of public opinion.
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an assembly, meeting place, television program, etc., for the discussion of questions of public interest.
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Also called online forum,. Also called internet forum,. Also called web forum. message board.
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the Forum, the forum in the ancient city of Rome.
noun
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a meeting or assembly for the open discussion of subjects of public interest
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a medium for open discussion, such as a magazine
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a public meeting place for open discussion
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a court; tribunal
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(in South Africa) a pressure group of leaders or representatives, esp Black leaders or representatives
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(in ancient Italy) an open space, usually rectangular in shape, serving as a city's marketplace and centre of public business
noun
Usage
Plural word for forum The plural form of forum can be either forums or fora. Forums is more widely used. The plurals of several other singular words that end in -um are formed in this way, including gum/gums, possum/possums, or geranium/geraniums. Irregular plurals that are formed like fora, such as curriculum/curricula and memorandum/memoranda, derive directly from their original pluralization in Latin. However, the standard English plural -s ending is often also acceptable for these terms, as in curriculums and memorandums.
Etymology
Origin of forum
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Latin: “marketplace, public place,” akin to forīs, forās “outside,” foris door
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
No senior administration officials have appeared on the flagship public affairs programs that, for all their flaws, have long served as a forum for democratic accountability.
From Salon
Over the decades, Boys' Love spread through online forums as the internet bloomed, gaining a fiercely loyal fanbase across East and South East Asia, often conservative cultures where queer love still carries stigma.
From BBC
The forum ordered an independent review into Brende over his ties to the disgraced financier following the release of Epstein files by the US Department of Justice.
From BBC
The prime minister was asked at a forum the previous day to give one-word reactions to various personalities.
From Barron's
In one forum, Youth Against Corruption, members planned the protest outside parliament on 8 September.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.