conservative

(kən-sûr'və-tĭv)
adj.

1. Favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change.
2. Traditional or restrained in style: a conservative dark suit.
3. Moderate; cautious: a conservative estimate.
4. 1. Of or relating to the political philosophy of conservatism.
   2. Belonging to a conservative party, group, or movement.
5. Conservative Of or belonging to the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom or the Progressive Conservative Party in Canada.
6. Conservative Of or adhering to Conservative Judaism.
7. Tending to conserve; preservative: the conservative use of natural resources.

n.

1. One favoring traditional views and values.
2. A supporter of political conservatism.
3. Conservative A member or supporter of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom or the Progressive Conservative Party in Canada.
4. Archaic. A preservative agent or principle.

conservatively con·ser'va·tive·ly adv.
conservativeness con·ser'va·tive·ness n.

View more History, Politics, Society videos

in the meaning 'moderate, cautious, low', as in a conservative estimate, is one of Fowler's lost causes. He regarded it as a ridiculous 'slipshod extension' and rejected it outright. But it is now well established in the language and is unexceptionable.

Previous:	consequent, consequential, consensus, conscientious
Next:	consider, considerable, considering

adjective

1. Strongly favoring retention of the existing order: orthodox, right, rightist, right-wing, Tory, traditionalist, traditionalistic. See keep/release.
2. Kept within sensible limits: discreet, moderate, reasonable, restrained, temperate. See plain/fancy, restraint/unrestraint.
3. Clinging to obsolete ideas: backward, reactionary, unprogressive. See politics.
4. Able to preserve: preservative, protective. See help/harm/harmless.

noun

One who strongly favors retention of the existing order: orthodox, rightist, right-winger, Tory, traditionalist. See keep/release.

adj

Definition: cautious, moderate
Antonyms: exaggerated, incautious, left-wing, liberal, progressive, radical

n

Definition: person who is cautious, moderate
Antonyms: left-winger, liberal, progressive, radical

A descriptive term for persons, policies, and beliefs associated with conservatism.

A cynical view of the world by Ambrose Bierce

n.

A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal, who wishes to replace them with others.

---

IN BRIEF: Resisting change. Also: Moderate, cautious.

Carl made a conservative estimate of his car's value.

LearnThatWord.com is a free vocabulary and spelling program where you only pay for results!

Quotes:

"When a nation's young men are conservative, its funeral bell is already rung." - Henry Ward Beecher

"Conservative. A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from a Liberal, who wishes to replace them with others." - Ambrose Bierce

"All great peoples are conservative." - Thomas Carlyle

"There are no black conservatives. Oh, there are neoconservatives with black skin, but they lack any claim to blackness other than the biological. They have forgotten their roots." - Stephen Carter

"A conservative is a fellow who thinks a rich man should have a square deal." - Frank Dane

"The world is burdened with young fogies. Old men with ossified minds are easily dealt with. But men who look young, act young and everlastingly harp on the fact that they are young, but who nevertheless think and act with a degree of caution that would be excessive in their grandfathers, are the curse of the world. Their very conservatism is secondhand, and they don't know what they are conserving." - Robertson Davies

See more famous quotes about Conservatives

Conservative is the term given to those politicians or supporters whose political opinions fall to the “right” of center. Conservatism, often referred to as mainstream conservatism, has at least two important aspects: “Political” conservatives generally support free-market economic principles and low taxes, and tend to distrust federal, as opposed to state and local, government power. “Social” or “cultural” conservatives tend to stand for traditional values, such as those associated with family, church, and morality, and support governmental restrictions on personal behavior with an aim of upholding traditional values. Modern American political conservatism is widely perceived to support personal responsibility; Judeo-Christian religious and moral values; strong law enforcement and strong penalties for crimes; restraint in taxation and regulation of businesses; a strong military; and well-defended protected borders with regulated immigration. Conservatives tend to oppose gun control laws; many social programs such as welfare and national health care (although many favor the country’s mandatory user-funded retirement benefits system); and policies such as affirmative action and multilingual education, which they believe can be perceived as government favoritism of minority groups. The Republican Party is most closely associated with conservatism.

Previous:	What is a committee?
Next:	What is a filibuster?

For a list of words related to conservative, see:

• Politicians and Activists - conservative: adherent to political conservatism
• Moderate, Sane, Conservative, or Old-Fashioned

---

  See crossword solutions for the clue Conservative.

Common misspelling(s) of conservative

• conservitive

Dansk (Danish)
adj. - konservativ, mod forandringer, forsigtig, moderat, bevarende
n. - tilhænger/medlem af det konservative folkeparti

Nederlands (Dutch)
conservatief, behoudend, conserverend, behoudend persoon, conservatief (politiek)

Français (French)
adj. - conservateur, prudent, minimal, classique
n. - conservateur

Deutsch (German)
n. - Konservativer
adj. - konservativ

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - συντηρητικός
adj. - συντηρητικός, μετρημένος, επιφυλακτικός

Italiano (Italian)
conservatore

Português (Portuguese)
n. - conservador (m), preservativo (m)
adj. - conservador, moderado, cauteloso

Русский (Russian)
консерватор, консервативный

Español (Spanish)
adj. - conservador, moderado, prudente
n. - lo que conserva, preservativo

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - konservativ person, skyddande medel
adj. - konservativ, försiktig (vard.), bevarande

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
保守的, 有保存力的, 守旧的, 保守者, 守旧者, 防腐剂, 保守党党员

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 保守的, 有保存力的, 守舊的
n. - 保守者, 守舊者, 防腐劑, 保守黨黨員

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 보수적인, 신중한, 수수한
n. - 보수주의자, 보수당원, 방부제

日本語 (Japanese)
adj. - 保守的な, 保守党の, 控えめな, 伝統的な, 保存力のある
n. - 保守党員, 保守的傾向の人, 保守的な人

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) عضو حزب المحافظين (صفه) تقليدي, مقاوم للتغيير‏

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮שמרן, צנוע, זהיר, שמרני‬
n. - ‮שמרן‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.