Word Choice – Meeting vs Session

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How shall I tell the words "meeting" and "session" apart, whilst some dictionaries and articles introduce them as similar words (at least in a specific sense where "meeting" can be used) and some other sources present them as quite different words?

For me, session is a connection like a session which is held between a client and a server in a computer-based end-to-end, real-time chatting systems. So it strikes me as a sort of "connectin", not "gathering".

On the other hand, "meeting" and only "meeting" can imply the meaning of an event in which people discuss matters; so in spite of some dictionaries' explanations, "session" should not be able to be used here, while as per some other definitions it can!

Please let me know how native speakers think about them!

Best Answer

A session is a period of time. A meeting is where two or more things or people join each other. Most business meetings can therefore be sessions. Usually the noun "meeting" means some kind of planned, enduring, period of time for discussion, and so can be a session. The verb "to meet" often has more the sense of "encounter", ie the moment the things come together.

Here are some examples to distinguish:

  • (In a university or conference) We have four sessions per day, what should we do with them? Let's use the first two sessions for lectures, the third session for private study and the fourth session for meetings with parents. (sessions = period of time in schedule, lectures are not meetings_
  • (big organisation eg United Nations) We have a plenary session on Tuesday. (a meeting and a session)
  • (conference) Let's have a quick meeting between the first and second sessions (the meeting is short, the sessions are long)
  • I had a late session last (night and got my all my homework done (no one else was there, so not a meeting, but took a long time)
  • (Jazz and similar music, scheduled period of recording) Let's have a strings session this evening, make sure all the violinists know (not a meeting because they are doing a shared task)

  • (UK drinking slang, extended drinking period) Last night we had a bit of a session, my head hurts

  • (Business) Let's go to the meeting, but I just want to say hello then leave (not a session, doesn't last any time)
  • (Act of being introduced to someone) Have you met your fiancee's parents yet? No, I'm meeting them next week before the wedding. (not a session)
  • (Act of welcoming someone) I'm meeting George at the airport (not a session, waiting there isn't the meeting: the meeting is when you greet each other
  • (Encounter) I met my deadline (implies successfully)
  • (Encounter) I met a problem
  • (Idiom for dying) The Sheriff finally sent George to a long-overdue meeting with his maker. (maker = God, means killed George, meeting=encounter, this isn't a session)
  • (Idiom for strong agreement) They had a meeting of minds (they don't even have to communicate for this to occur)
  • (Expression) When the immovable object meets the irresistible force (not a session)
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