conservative

1 of 2

adjective

con·​ser·​va·​tive kən-ˈsər-və-tiv How to pronounce conservative (audio)
1
a
: of or relating to a philosophy of conservatism
b
Conservative : of or constituting a political party professing the principles of conservatism: such as
(1)
: of or constituting a party of the United Kingdom advocating support of established institutions
2
a
: tending or disposed to maintain existing views, conditions, or institutions : traditional
conservative policies
b
: marked by moderation or caution
a conservative estimate
c
: marked by or relating to traditional norms of taste, elegance, style, or manners
a conservative suit
a conservative architectural style
3
Conservative : of, relating to, or practicing Conservative Judaism
4
conservatively adverb
conservativeness noun

conservative

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: an adherent or advocate of political conservatism
b
Conservative : a member or supporter of a conservative political party
2
a
: one who adheres to traditional methods or views
b
: a cautious or discreet person

Examples of conservative in a Sentence

Adjective She is a liberal Democrat who married a conservative Republican. She's more conservative now than she was in college. Noun His message is being well received by conservatives. proposed legislation that was opposed by conservatives throughout the state
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The conservative think tank has made headlines lately for its role in fomenting outrage over diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 12 Mar. 2024 Some argued that Chen’s liberal perspective was more problematic than any conservative voice. Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024 But one area where Jenner opted to be a little more conservative was the dress’s opacity. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2024 Someone who is conservative for all the right reasons. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2024 Most men, meanwhile, got the memo that a traditional tux was the order of the day for the season’s most prestigious event, which is perhaps why Cillian Murphy opted for a look that felt more conservative than the forward-thinking looks he’s been wearing throughout the awards season. Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024 In recent decades, the Irish public has made a series of significant changes that rolled back socially conservative policies. Megan Specia, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024 Arguing Elliott’s case was former U.S. Solicitor General Theodore Olson from Gibson Dunn, famous for his victories for the conservative side in Bush v. Gore (2000) and Citizens United (2010). Gregory Makoff, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2024 Tangent While all three leaders have endorsed Trump’s 2024 campaign, Barrasso—the Senate Republican Conference chairman—is seen as the most conservative of the three and was the first to endorse him, while Thune and Cornyn have been critical of Trump in the past. Sara Dorn, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
Noun
It has been hailed by conservatives, who praise the Texas governor for taking an aggressive approach to security, and criticized by human rights advocates. Ann E. Marimow, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 Image The Covid pandemic made Wyoming’s live-and-let-live spirit appealing to many conservatives, like Ms. Ward, who saw the state as a haven from masks and vaccine mandates. Kate Zernike, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024 Kristen Stewart recently pulled on a Bike jockstrap for the cover of Rolling Stone, earning barbs from some conservatives. Leanne Italie, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2024 Even some conservatives preferred not to speak out. Madeleine Kearns, National Review, 7 Mar. 2024 Super Tuesday exit polls in California Donald Trump scored a commanding win in California, winning men, women, both White and non-White voters, both moderates and conservatives, both Republicans and independents and voters of all age groups and education levels. Jennifer De Pinto, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2024 This 77-Year-Old Bride Wore a Custom Attersee Suit for Her Manhattan Wedding Celebration The American flag wasn’t always the aesthetic domain of conservatives. Mattie Kahn, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2024 But party conservatives had a favorite in Reagan, then the former governor of California, and his campaign caught fire in the later primaries held in the South and West. Ron Elving, NPR, 3 Mar. 2024 The populist wing of the party exemplified by former President Donald Trump has steadily grown, prompting clashes between conservatives and more traditional, moderate Republicans. USA TODAY, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'conservative.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English conservatif "tending to protect or preserve," borrowed from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Late Latin conservātīvus, from Latin conservātus, past participle of conservāre "to save or keep from danger, preserve, keep unchanged" + -īvus -ive — more at conserve entry 1

Noun

derivative of conservative entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Noun

1831, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of conservative was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near conservative

Cite this Entry

“Conservative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conservative. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

conservative

1 of 2 adjective
con·​ser·​va·​tive kən-ˈsər-vət-iv How to pronounce conservative (audio)
1
: tending to conserve or preserve
2
: of or relating to conservatism
3
: tending to preserve existing views, conditions, or institutions : traditional
4
: cautious, moderate
a conservative estimate
5
: being in agreement with the usual standards of taste or manners
a conservative suit
a conservative dresser
conservatively adverb
conservativeness noun

conservative

2 of 2 noun
: a person who is conservative especially in politics

Medical Definition

conservative

adjective
con·​ser·​va·​tive kən-ˈsər-vət-iv How to pronounce conservative (audio)
: not extreme or drastic
especially : designed to preserve parts or restore or preserve function
conservative treatment of prostate cancer by watchful waiting or hormonal therapy in contrast to radical prostatectomy
compare aggressive sense 3, radical entry 1
conservatively adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on conservative

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