Definition of CONSERVATIVE (original) (raw)
1
a
: of, relating to, or favoring a philosophy of conservatism (see conservatism sense 1a), especially political conservatism (see conservatism sense 1b) and often also [social conservatism](/dictionary/social conservatism)
a conservative newspaper columnist
a liberal Democrat who married a conservative Republican
conservative elements opposed to the reforms
Nearly all of the far-right members in the House represent deeply conservative, Republican districts in which the only opposition an incumbent worries about would come from a primary challenge.—
David Lauter
In the mid-1950s, a woman getting a divorce in conservative Nashville was something of a scandal …—Rachel DeSantis
… donations to conservative groups fighting pornography, labor unions and marijuana legalization.—Dave Brooks
Those are some of the handful of researchers often cited by those who reject mainstream climate science, and each has worked with conservative groups fighting climate regulations.—Scott Waldman
b
Conservative : of or constituting a political party professing the principles of conservatism: such as
(1)
: of or constituting a country's Conservative party
a Conservative government/majority
the UK's Conservative Party
the Conservative Party of Canada
(2)
: of or relating to any of various Conservative state-level political parties in the U.S.
the Conservative Party of Illinois
the Conservative ballot line
2
a
: tending or inclined to maintain existing views, conditions, or institutions : traditional
Hunters also tend to be conservative—not just politically, but skeptical of change.—Ben Long
b
: marked by moderation or caution
In recent years, many agencies have adopted more conservative policies regarding introduction of nonnative species; nevertheless, introductions continue at an alarming rate.—Craig N. Spencer et al.
One conservative estimate of the number of butterflies at a single site in Mexico was 14.25 million.—Mark Carwardine
c
: marked by or relating to traditional norms of taste, elegance, style, or manners : tending to avoid qualities or elements that are novel, showy, etc.
a conservative architectural style
… boys' names tended to be more conservative and move more slowly up and down the popularity ladder because so many boys were given family names to cement lineage and inheritance.—Pamela Redmond Satran
A woman entered the dining room, dressed in a conservative pastel sweater and skirt at odds with the others' casual clothes.—Gini Sikes
4
especially, medical : designed to preserve parts or restore or preserve function
… Dr. Lutz prefers conservative treatment: rest, braces, anti-inflammatory injections, physical therapy. But he knew that those measures had failed to relieve the dancer's pain. —Karen Freeman
a
: an adherent or advocate of conservatism (see conservatism sense 1) and especially political conservatism
Appointed as a conservative, [Sandra Day] O'Connor became known as a centrist, supporting traditional boundaries between church and state and writing an opinion justifying race-conscious admissions in law schools.—Mariana Alfaro
Advocates often focus on the right to seek asylum under U.S. law, while conservatives argue that current operations let in too many people unlikely to merit protection.—Sarah Matusek
Many conservatives see concerns about climate change overblown, and a losing issue with their voters.—Tim Hanharan
[Abraham] Lincoln the politician was a master of misdirection, of appearing to appease conservatives while manipulating them toward acceptance of radical policies.—James M. McPherson
A fiscal conservative advocates for small government and low taxes but is open to higher taxes if necessary to erase deficits. That kind of thinking defined the Republican Party for most of the 20th century.—Jackie Calmes
see also [social conservative](/dictionary/social conservatism)
b
Conservative plural Conservatives : a member or supporter of a Conservative (see conservative entry 1 sense 1b) political party
the Conservatives in Parliament
c
: a person who adheres to traditional methods or views
a conservative in dress and manner
She [musician Clara Schumann] was a conservative who represented integrity and tradition, as opposed to the flaming virtuosity of Liszt and the "music of the future" of Wagner.—Harold C. Schonberg
Synonyms
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The backlash against these policies has been especially pronounced among veterans, whose families have historically provided the largest share of recruits—and who tend to be more politically conservative. —Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025 The game plan had to change to something more conservative, more repeatable, more robust. —Jack Pitt-Brooke, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
Since 2015, the Supreme Court has skewed conservative, as Donald Trump appointed three judges during his first presidential term. —Abby Monteil, Them, 3 Feb. 2025 Berlin, Germany Reuters — Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticized Friedrich Merz, her successor as leader of the country’s conservatives, on Thursday for pushing through a bill on tighter immigration control with the help of the far right. —Reuters, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for conservative 
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
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4
Noun
1831, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of conservative was in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near conservative
Cite this Entry
“Conservative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conservative. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
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Last Updated: 6 Feb 2025 - Updated example sentences
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