Convocative

Convocative is an adjective meaning relating to or causing a convocation, i.e., the act of calling people together or summoning an assembly. It denotes something that tends to summon or assemble, especially in formal, institutional, or ceremonial contexts. The word derives from Latin convocare, “to call together,” with the English suffix -ive, and it has historically appeared in scholarly or historical writing as well as ceremonial language.

Usage of convocative tends to be rare in everyday English. It is more likely to be found in formal discourse or in discussions about assemblies, convocations, or measures intended to gather participants. In modern usage, writers often substitute more common terms such as convoke (verb), convocation (noun), or convocatory/convocational variants when referring to the act of summoning or the event itself. When present, convocative phrasing tends to emphasize the inducing or urging aspect of summoning.

Examples of usage are typically found in historical texts, legal or governmental documents, or formal speeches. For instance, a convocative address might be described as designed to bring faculty and students to a university ceremony, while a convocative notice would aim to gather council members for a meeting. Awareness of its rarity helps guide whether to use convocative or a more commonplace synonym to ensure clarity and tone.

See also: convocation, convoke, convocatory, convocational.