venue
VEN-yoo
/ˈvɛnjuː/
The place where a public event, concert, or meeting is held.
Refers specifically to a site structured or designated for organized gatherings.
The story behind the word. In Anglo-French law, a 'venue' was a neighborhood from which jurors were summoned—literally the place where people 'came together' (from Latin 'venire'). By the 19th century, English broadened the word to mean any designated location where people assemble for a show or meeting.
Word relationships
- location: 'Location' is any geographical point, whereas 'venue' implies a gathering site prepared for an audience.
- hall: 'Hall' refers specifically to an indoor building or room, whereas a 'venue' can be indoors or outdoors.
Commonly confused with
- avenue: An 'avenue' is a wide street; a 'venue' is an event location.
Collocations
- concert venue
- outdoor venue
- book a venue
- renovate the venue
Example sentences
- "The historic theater was selected as the official venue for the annual jazz festival." Concert promotion
- "Organizers had to change the venue when ticket sales far exceeded expectations." Tour logistics
Memory hook
Think of VENUE as the place where the audience comes down the AVENUE. VENUE is where people COME together.
When not to use
Do not use for informal private homes unless rented out for an official gathering.
Fun facts
- The word 'venue' originally had a legal meaning referring to the location where a trial's jury was selected.
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