panel discussion
/ˈpænəl dɪˈskʌʃən/
CommonA scheduled event at a convention where guests or fans talk about a specific topic to an audience.
Often just called 'a panel'. The 'discussion' suffix is used when distinguishing from other panel types like screenings, Q and A sessions, or workshops.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | the cosplay craftsmanship panel discussion was packed. standing room only | The crafting panel was very popular with a full or overfilled room. | x, 2024 |
| 02 | i'm running a panel discussion on wig styling at ax this year | Hosting a convention event focused on wig crafting techniques. | instagram, 2024 |
| 03 | the panel discussion went long but nobody wanted it to end | The event ran over its scheduled time but the audience was engaged. | tiktok, 2023 |
| 04 | skipped the dealer room to catch the panel discussion on fan translation history | Chose a panel event over convention shopping. | reddit, 2023 |
Use it when
- Referring to a scheduled room event at a convention.
- Someone mentions attending or hosting a convention event with speakers.
- Describing the programming section of a convention schedule.
Do not use it when
- You mean a screening, concert, or workshop at a convention.Use “event” instead.
- You mean a general conversation, not a scheduled convention event.
Variations and related forms
Origin and context
Panel discussions are a standard feature of conventions inherited from academic and science fiction conference culture. They became a core component of anime and comic conventions in North America in the 1990s and have been part of convention programming vocabulary since.
- First seen
- 1990s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/panel-discussionUpdated: 2026-08-29License: CC BY 4.0