forum.

1. A public square or open civic center in ancient Roman communities used for assembly, commerce, and public affairs.

2. A place, event, or organized group where issues are discussed.

3. A court, tribunal, or jurisdiction in which a legal matter is heard or may be brought.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• a Roman forum
• the forum’s colonnade

On the page

The Roman forum filled before the magistrate appeared.

The forum’s colonnade sheltered the traders from the afternoon heat.

Usage notes

Primary category: setting. Forms: Singular forum; plural forums or fora. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.