What does symposium mean?
Word: Symposium
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Symposium means a meeting where experts share and discuss their ideas on one subject.
How do you spell symposium?
Syllables: sym - po - si - um
Tricky part: The short i sound straight after the s is really a y, which many pupils miss.
Watch out for: simposium, symposum, symposeum
Memory tip: Experts gather to ask why, so let the y of why take second place in the word.
Symposium in a sentence
Example 1: Doctors from five cities spoke at a symposium held in Vienna.
Example 2: Our college will host a symposium on solar energy in March.
Example 3: Her paper on honeybees was the highlight of the symposium.
Fun Fact
The word has two plurals in everyday use: symposia and symposiums.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
symmposium
a) s
b) o
c) p
d) m
Show answer
d) m. Cross out one m and the word reads correctly.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word symposium as used in the sentence:
Scholars from six countries attended a three-day symposium on river wildlife in Pune.
a) ceremony
b) concert
c) contest
d) conference
Show answer
d) conference. Scholars come together at a conference to present and talk over their work.
Mingle-Mangle
The jumbled letters in the sentence hide a word. Choose it.
The science club is planning next month's iysouspmm on clean water.
a) sympathy
b) symphony
c) synopsis
d) symposium
Show answer
d) symposium. Only one option has an m, a u and two s's among its letters.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is misspelt. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. seminer 2. symposium 3. debate 4. lecture
a) a formal argument between two sides
b) a formal talk given to an audience
c) an event that gathers specialists to compare findings
d) a small class that discusses one topic with a tutor
Show answer
d) a small class that discusses one topic with a tutor. Seminar ends in ar; the other three are printed correctly.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Who would you most expect to give talks at a symposium on the climate?
a) sellers of umbrellas and raincoats
b) players from a local football team
c) scientists who study the weather and seas
d) actors from the latest hit film
Show answer
c) scientists who study the weather and seas
2. What would the printed programme for a symposium most likely list?
a) dishes, prices and table numbers
b) trains, platforms and departure times
c) players, scores and match results
d) speakers, topics and discussion times
Show answer
d) speakers, topics and discussion times
