venue
VEN-yoo
/ˈven.juː/
The place where a public event, concert, or meeting happens.
Refers specifically to the physical site or location hosting an event.
The story behind the word. Venue stems from Old French 'venue' (a coming or arrival), originating from Latin 'venire'. In early English law, it referred to the locality where a jury was summoned to come. By the 20th century, it expanded to denote any physical space where people gather for shows.
Word relationships
- location: Location is generic, while venue specifically implies a space arranged for hosting events.
- site: Site often implies physical ground or construction rather than a curated performance space.
Commonly confused with
- avenue: Avenue is a wide street; venue is an event location.
Word family
- venues (noun): Plural of venue.
Collocations
- concert venue
- packed venue
- intimate venue
- outdoor venue
Idioms & expressions
- change of venue
Example sentences
- "The acoustic quality of the venue made the intimate acoustic performance truly unforgettable." Event Planning
- "The historic venue was packed to capacity long before the opening act took the stage." Cultural History
Memory hook
A place where people VENture to come and see a show. Where people come together.
When not to use
Do not use to describe the performance itself or the audience.
Fun facts
- In legal terminology, a 'change of venue' means moving a trial to a different geographical location for fairness.
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