Encounter vs. Meeting — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 14, 2023
An encounter is a sudden or unexpected interaction, while a meeting is a prearranged gathering or assembly of people.
Difference Between Encounter and Meeting
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
An encounter and a meeting are both forms of interactions between individuals or entities, but their contexts and implications differ significantly. An encounter often refers to a sudden, unexpected, or unplanned interaction. Imagine walking down the street and running into an old friend; that's an encounter. The spontaneity is key here. On the other hand, a meeting usually involves some level of planning or intention. A corporate team assembling to discuss quarterly results is attending a meeting, as there is a structured agenda and prior knowledge of the interaction.
While encounters can be fleeting and can occur between strangers, meetings are often more structured and involve familiar parties. An encounter could be brief, like accidentally bumping into someone at the grocery store. A meeting, however, is usually set with a purpose in mind – whether it's a business meeting to finalize a deal, or friends meeting for a planned dinner.
Additionally, the term encounter can sometimes have a more dramatic or confrontational connotation. One might encounter difficulties, challenges, or even wild animals. Meetings, conversely, are generally neutral and revolve around discussions, decisions, or social interactions.
In sum, while both terms denote interactions, an encounter is typically unexpected and can be either neutral or confrontational, whereas a meeting is preplanned, purposeful, and structured.
Comparison Chart
Nature
Unexpected or unplanned interaction.
Prearranged gathering or assembly.
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Duration & Structure
Can be brief and unstructured.
Often has a set duration and structure.
Participants
Can occur between strangers or known individuals.
Typically involves known parties.
Connotation
Can be neutral or confrontational.
Generally neutral, centered around discussion.
Contextual Usage
More versatile; can refer to challenges.
More specific to gatherings with a purpose.
Compare with Definitions
Encounter
A brief or unexpected meeting.
I had a pleasant encounter with an old friend at the mall.
Meeting
An assembly or conference about a particular topic.
The annual shareholders' meeting was held in the main hall.
Encounter
A casual or chance interaction.
During his walk, he had several encounters with friendly locals.
Meeting
The act of coming together.
The meeting of the two rivers was a sight to behold.
Encounter
An unplanned experience or event.
Her first encounter with snow was magical.
Meeting
A prearranged gathering of people.
The team has a meeting scheduled for 3 PM.
Encounter
A meeting, especially one that is unplanned, unexpected, or brief
A chance encounter in the park.
Meeting
A session where discussions and decisions occur.
The board meeting lasted for over two hours.
Encounter
A hostile or adversarial confrontation
A tense naval encounter.
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.
Encounter
To meet, especially unexpectedly; come upon
Encountered an old friend on the street.
Meeting
The act or process or an instance of coming together; an encounter.
Encounter
To confront in battle or competition
Encountered last year's champion.
Meeting
An assembly or gathering of people, as for a business, social, or religious purpose.
Encounter
To experience or undergo
We have encountered numerous obstacles.
Meeting
The act of persons or things that meet.
Meeting him will be exciting.
I enjoy meeting new people.
Encounter
To meet, especially unexpectedly.
Meeting
A gathering of persons for a purpose; an assembly.
We need to have a meeting about that soon.
Encounter
(transitive) To meet (someone) or find (something), especially unexpectedly.
Meeting
(collective) The people at such a gathering.
What has the meeting decided.
Encounter
(transitive) To confront (someone or something) face to face.
Meeting
An encounter between people, even accidental.
They came together in a chance meeting on the way home from work.
Encounter
(ambitransitive) To engage in conflict, as with an enemy.
Three armies encountered at Waterloo.
Meeting
A place or instance of junction or intersection; a confluence.
Earthquakes occur at the meeting of tectonic plates.
Encounter
To execute someone extrajudicially.
Meeting
A religious service held by a charismatic preacher in small towns in the United States.
Encounter
A meeting, especially one that is unplanned or unexpected.
Their encounter was a matter of chance.
Meeting
(Quakerism) An administrative unit in the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).
Denver meeting is a part of Intermountain yearly meeting.
Encounter
A hostile, often violent meeting; a confrontation, skirmish, or clash, as between combatants.
Meeting
Present participle of meet
Encounter
(sports) A match between two opposing sides.
Meeting
A coming together; an assembling; as, the meeting of Congress.
Encounter
(sexuality) A sexual encounter; sexual activity, especially unplanned or unexpected, between people not in a sexual relationship, that usually does not lead to the establishment of a relationship, and may or may not happen again. A sexual encounter could be consensual or non-consensual; in the latter case, it is a sexual assault. A consensual sexual encounter that happens only once is commonly known as a one-night stand.
Meeting
A junction, crossing, or union; as, the meeting of the roads or of two rivers.
Encounter
(Indian English) An extrajudicial killing or execution.
Meeting
A congregation; a collection of people; a convention; as, a large meeting; an harmonious meeting.
Encounter
To come against face to face; to meet; to confront, either by chance, suddenly, or deliberately; especially, to meet in opposition or with hostile intent; to engage in conflict with; to oppose; to struggle with; as, to encounter a friend in traveling; two armies encounter each other; to encounter obstacles or difficulties, to encounter strong evidence of a truth.
Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him.
I am most fortunate thus accidentally to encounter you.
Meeting
An assembly for worship; as, to attend meeting on Sunday; - in England, applied distinctively and disparagingly to the worshiping assemblies of Dissenters.
Encounter
To meet face to face; to have a meeting; to meet, esp. as enemies; to engage in combat; to fight; as, three armies encountered at Waterloo.
I will encounter with Andronicus.
Perception and judgment, employed in the investigation of all truth, have in the first place to encounter with particulars.
Meeting
A formally arranged gathering;
Next year the meeting will be in Chicago
The meeting elected a chairperson
Encounter
A meeting face to face; a running against; a sudden or incidental meeting; an interview.
To shun the encounter of the vulgar crowd.
Meeting
The social act of assembling for some common purpose;
His meeting with the salesmen was the high point of his day
Encounter
A meeting, with hostile purpose; hence, a combat; a battle; as, a bloody encounter.
As one for . . . fierce encounters fit
To join their dark encounter in mid-air
Meeting
A small informal social gathering;
There was an informal meeting in my livingroom
Encounter
A minor short-term fight
Meeting
A casual or unexpected convergence;
He still remembers their meeting in Paris
There was a brief encounter in the hallway
Encounter
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
Encounter
A casual meeting with a person of thing
Meeting
A place where things merge or flow together (especially rivers);
Pittsburgh is located at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers
Encounter
A hostile disagreement face-to-face
Meeting
A planned social interaction.
We had a lovely meeting with family over the weekend.
Encounter
Come together;
I'll probably see you at the meeting
How nice to see you again!
Encounter
Come upon, as if by accident; meet with;
We find this idea in Plato
I happened upon the most wonderful bakery not very far from here
She chanced upon an interesting book in the bookstore the other day
Encounter
Be beset by;
The project ran into numerous financial difficulties
Encounter
Experience as a reaction;
My proposal met with much opposition
Encounter
Contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle;
Princeton plays Yale this weekend
Charlie likes to play Mary
Encounter
A confrontation or conflict.
The troops had a violent encounter with the enemy.
Encounter
Coming across something unexpectedly.
Travelers may encounter various challenges on their journey.
Common Curiosities
Can an encounter be planned?
Typically, encounters are spontaneous, but context might sometimes allow for planned "encounters."
Is a meeting always about business?
No, meetings can be social, like friends meeting for coffee.
Are meetings formal?
Not always, meetings can be formal or informal based on context.
Are encounter and meeting synonymous?
No, an encounter is often unexpected, while a meeting is prearranged.
Is every unexpected interaction an encounter?
While encounters are often unexpected, not all unplanned interactions are encounters.
Do meetings always have an agenda?
Typically, formal meetings have an agenda, but casual ones might not.
Can you encounter an object?
Yes, one can encounter obstacles, surprises, or objects unexpectedly.
Is an encounter always short-lived?
Not necessarily, but encounters are often brief due to their unexpected nature.
Which term is broader in scope, encounter or meeting?
Encounter has a broader scope and can be applied in more varied contexts.
Is a scheduled reunion a meeting?
Yes, since it's a prearranged gathering.
Can encounter have confrontational undertones?
Yes, one can encounter challenges or confrontations.
Do encounters always involve people?
No, one can encounter challenges, objects, or even phenomena.
Can an encounter lead to a meeting?
Yes, a chance encounter can lead to a planned meeting later.
Can a meeting happen between two strangers?
Generally, meetings are prearranged and between known parties, but exceptions exist.
Can a meeting be unexpected?
Generally, meetings are planned, but one might be called into an unexpected meeting.
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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.
