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press conference

press conference

392 3.1
A meeting where a famous person answers questions from reporters
  • noun
  • /prɛs ˈkɒnfərəns/
  • Literature
translation icon : rueda de prensa
  • Good evening, in just moments, we're expecting the FBI to hold a press conference.
  • hold a press conference
  • call a press conference
  • organize a press conference

And Muskie gave this famous press conference in the snow.

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Examples

Synonyms

news conference
vspress conference
  • Literature
222 3.2

An event where reporters ask politicians, celebrities, or organizations questions and get official answers

is the more common formal name for the same event
presser
vspress conference
  • Literature
5 7.2

A short news meeting where people speak to reporters

is the formal, official version used in serious contexts

Antonyms

backroom meeting
  • Literature
7.1

A private meeting where people make important decisions away from the public

How Public

press conference
  • Literature
392 3.1
briefing
368 3.7

Surface Forms

Morphology

press + conference

The meaning is directly and transparently derived from combining 'press' (journalists) with 'conference' (a planned meeting): it denotes a meeting of journalists. This compositional pattern is common across languages and follows standard noun+noun compounding, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Press conference comes from press, an old word for newspapers and the machines that printed them, and conference, a meeting. It was a meeting where 'reporters' could ask questions and get information, so today it means an official meeting where journalists are invited to ask questions and receive information.