reunion
ree-YOO-nyun
/ˌriːˈjuː.ni.ən/
A gathering of people who have been parted or who have been associated with one another in the past.
Focuses specifically on reconnecting people after a notable period of separation.
The story behind the word. Formed in French from 'réunir', which combines 're-' (again) and 'unir' (to join into one). Entered English in the early 17th century to describe coming back together after dispersion.
Word relationships
- gathering: 'Gathering' describes any assembly, whereas 'reunion' implies reuniting after time apart.
- parting: The act of separating or leaving one another.
Commonly confused with
- homecoming: Reunions are often cohort-specific, whereas homecoming is a broad annual campus event.
Word family
- reunite (verb): To come together again after a period of separation.
Collocations
- class reunion
- family reunion
- reunion dinner
- attend a reunion
Example sentences
- "The class of 2010 celebrated their ten-year college reunion with a gala dinner in the main quadrangle." Social Events
Memory hook
RE (again) + UNION (joining) = Joining together again. Coming together after years apart.
When not to use
Avoid using to describe regular, weekly, or routine meetings.
Fun facts
- College class reunions traditionally occur at 5, 10, 25, and 50-year milestones.
Related words
Explore more words
rendezvous, congregate, unite, rally, reintegration, reconcile
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