Reunion vs. Meeting — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 3, 2023
A reunion is a gathering of people coming together after a long separation, while a meeting is a planned event for discussion or business.
Difference Between Reunion and Meeting
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A reunion typically implies a social gathering of family, friends, or colleagues who have been apart for a significant period. The emotional component of reunions is a central element, often characterized by nostalgia and celebration. Meetings, however, are generally formal gatherings with a specific agenda or purpose, such as decision-making, information sharing, or collaboration.
Reunions are events marked by personal connections, commemorating shared histories or experiences, such as class reunions or family gatherings. Unlike reunions, meetings are less about personal bonds and more about achieving particular objectives, whether in corporate settings, among community members, or in various organizations.
The frequency of reunions tends to be infrequent, sometimes annual or even less often, due to the logistical challenges of bringing together participants from different locations. Meetings can be recurrent events, such as weekly team check-ins or monthly board meetings, structured to support ongoing operations or projects.
While reunions are often planned to allow for socialization and rekindling relationships, they may not have a strict schedule or agenda. Meetings, in contrast, are typically structured with a clear start and end time, a designated leader or facilitator, and a list of topics to be discussed or decisions to be made.
In terms of scale, reunions can vary from small family affairs to large-scale events like school reunions that involve elaborate planning and coordination. Meetings can range from intimate two-person discussions to large conferences, with the scale typically reflecting the scope of the topics to be addressed.
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
Socializing and reconnecting
Discussion and decision-making
Emotion
Nostalgic and celebratory
Professional and task-oriented
Frequency
Infrequent
Can be regular or ad hoc
Structure
Flexible, often informal
Structured with an agenda
Participants
Family, friends, past associates
Colleagues, members, stakeholders
Compare with Definitions
Reunion
It denotes the act of being united again.
The reunion of the lost dog with its owner was heartwarming.
Meeting
It refers to the act of convening or assembling in a place.
The committee will be holding a meeting next Tuesday.
Reunion
A reunion can be a return to a place after a long absence.
He traveled back to his hometown for a heartfelt reunion.
Meeting
A meeting often involves formal proceedings or a set agenda.
She led the meeting with a clear agenda and time frame.
Reunion
The act of reuniting.
Meeting
An assembly or gathering of people, as for a business, social, or religious purpose.
Reunion
A gathering of the members of a group who have been separated
A high school reunion.
Meeting
A meeting is a gathering of individuals for discussion or business.
The board meeting will address the company's new policy.
Reunion
The state of being reunited.
Meeting
A meeting can be a planned occasion where information is exchanged.
During the team meeting, we outlined the project's next phases.
Reunion
A reunion is a social gathering of people who have been apart.
The family reunion was filled with laughter and reminiscing.
Meeting
A meeting is when two or more people come together to discuss one or more topics, often in a formal or business setting, but meetings also occur in a variety of other environments. Many various types of meetings exist.
Reunion
It refers to an event to celebrate coming together after separation.
The 20-year class reunion was held at the old school gym.
Meeting
The act of persons or things that meet.
Meeting him will be exciting.
I enjoy meeting new people.
Reunion
The process or act of reuniting.
The reunion took forever, but it was worth it.
It was a tearful and heartfelt reunion as the trapped miners finally saw their dear loved ones again.
Meeting
The act or process or an instance of coming together; an encounter.
Reunion
A planned event at which members of a dispersed group meet together.
Are you going to the high-school reunion this year?
Meeting
A gathering of persons for a purpose; an assembly.
We need to have a meeting about that soon.
Reunion
A second union; union formed anew after separation, secession, or discord; as, a reunion of parts or particles of matter; a reunion of parties or sects.
Meeting
(collective) The people at such a gathering.
What has the meeting decided.
Reunion
An assembling of persons who have been separated, as of a family, or the members of a disbanded regiment; an assembly so composed.
Meeting
An encounter between people, even accidental.
They came together in a chance meeting on the way home from work.
Reunion
A party of former associates who have come together again
Meeting
A place or instance of junction or intersection; a confluence.
Earthquakes occur at the meeting of tectonic plates.
Reunion
The act of coming together again;
Monetary unification precipitated the reunification of the German state in October 1990
Meeting
A religious service held by a charismatic preacher in small towns in the United States.
Reunion
A reunion often involves a celebration of shared history.
The military unit's reunion was a tribute to their shared service.
Meeting
(Quakerism) An administrative unit in the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).
Denver meeting is a part of Intermountain yearly meeting.
Meeting
Present participle of meet
Meeting
A coming together; an assembling; as, the meeting of Congress.
Meeting
A junction, crossing, or union; as, the meeting of the roads or of two rivers.
Meeting
A congregation; a collection of people; a convention; as, a large meeting; an harmonious meeting.
Meeting
An assembly for worship; as, to attend meeting on Sunday; - in England, applied distinctively and disparagingly to the worshiping assemblies of Dissenters.
Meeting
A formally arranged gathering;
Next year the meeting will be in Chicago
The meeting elected a chairperson
Meeting
The social act of assembling for some common purpose;
His meeting with the salesmen was the high point of his day
Meeting
A small informal social gathering;
There was an informal meeting in my livingroom
Meeting
A casual or unexpected convergence;
He still remembers their meeting in Paris
There was a brief encounter in the hallway
Meeting
The act of joining together as one;
The merging of the two groups occurred quickly
There was no meeting of minds
Meeting
A place where things merge or flow together (especially rivers);
Pittsburgh is located at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers
Meeting
It denotes an assembly or coming together of people for a purpose.
There's a meeting scheduled to plan the charity event.
Common Curiosities
Can meetings occur virtually?
Yes, meetings can be conducted virtually through various platforms.
What is the main reason for a reunion?
To reconnect with people after a period of separation.
Is it common to have a reunion at a workplace?
Not typically; workplace gatherings are usually called meetings.
Can a reunion be for professional purposes?
Rarely, as reunions are typically social and personal.
Is a team-building event a meeting or reunion?
It’s more like a meeting if it’s part of regular workplace activities.
Is a surprise party a reunion?
It could be considered a reunion if it brings together people who haven’t seen each other in a long time.
What might be discussed at a meeting?
Topics range from business strategies to community plans.
Do you need to prepare for a meeting?
Yes, preparation is key to contributing effectively to a meeting.
Do reunions require formal invitations?
Often they do, especially for large or significant reunions.
Are meetings ever informal?
Some meetings can be informal, like team check-ins or casual discussions.
Can reunions have agendas?
They might have a loose schedule, but rarely a formal agenda like meetings.
Is attendance at a reunion or meeting mandatory?
Attendance at meetings can be mandatory, while reunions are usually optional.
Can a meeting lead to a decision?
Yes, decision-making is a common purpose of meetings.
How often do reunions happen?
They can be annual, but some occur less frequently, like every 5 or 10 years.
Are minutes taken at reunions?
No, that’s a formal feature associated with meetings.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
