con·ser·va·tive
kən-ˈsər-və-tiv 
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
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
David LauterIn the mid-1950s, a woman getting a divorce in conservative Nashville was something of a scandal …—Rachel DeSantis
Rachel DeSantis… donations to conservative groups fighting pornography, labor unions and marijuana legalization.—Dave Brooks
Dave BrooksThose 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
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
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.
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
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
Pamela Redmond SatranA woman entered the dining room, dressed in a conservative pastel sweater and skirt at odds with the others' casual clothes.—Gini Sikes
Gini Sikes3
Conservative
: of, relating to, or practicing Conservative Judaism
4
: preservative
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
Karen Freeman
conservatively
adverb
dressed conservatively
conservativeness
noun
plural conservatives
: a person who is conservative (see conservative entry 1): such as
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
Mariana AlfaroAdvocates 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
Sarah MatusekMany conservatives see concerns about climate change overblown, and a losing issue with their voters.—Tim Hanharan
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
James M. McPhersonA 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
Jackie Calmes
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
Harold C. SchonbergSynonyms
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
Quartz Bot, Quartz, 12 Nov. 2024
This election ran smoothly because of the legislation and proactive lawsuits from the conservative movement, argued Arizona state Rep. Alexander Kolodin, a Republican who was sanctioned by the State Bar of Arizona for his role in challenging the 2020 election.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
George Packer, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024
That’s particularly true on the Republican side, where Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) faces an uncertain future, particularly in a GOP minority, due to opposition from conservatives in his conference.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for conservative 
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Adjective
The company maintains a conservative liquidity position with available-for-sale securities and credit availability with the Federal Home Loan Bank.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 12 Nov. 2024
This election ran smoothly because of the legislation and proactive lawsuits from the conservative movement, argued Arizona state Rep. Alexander Kolodin, a Republican who was sanctioned by the State Bar of Arizona for his role in challenging the 2020 election.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
Noun
Some German conservatives, in their hatred of the Weimar Republic and the Treaty of Versailles, embraced right-wing mass politics.
—George Packer, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024
That’s particularly true on the Republican side, where Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) faces an uncertain future, particularly in a GOP minority, due to opposition from conservatives in his conference.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for conservative
Dictionary Entries Near conservative
Cite this Entry
“Conservative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conservative. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
conservative
1 of 2 adjective
con·ser·va·tive
kən-ˈsər-vət-iv
1
: tending to conserve or preserve
2
: of or relating to conservatism
3
: tending to preserve existing views, conditions, or institutions : traditional
5
: being in agreement with the usual standards of taste or manners
a conservative suit
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
: 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
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