a member of the Conservative Party in Great Britain or Canada.
a member of a political party in Great Britain from the late 17th century to about 1832 that favored royal authority over Parliament and the preservation of the existing social and political order: succeeded by the Conservative party.
(often lowercase) an advocate of conservative principles; one opposed to reform or radicalism.
a person who supported the British cause in the American Revolution; a loyalist.
(in the 17th century) a dispossessed Irishman who resorted to banditry, especially after the invasion of Oliver Cromwell and suppression of the royalist cause (1649–52).
a male or female given name.
of, belonging to, or characteristic of the Tories.
being a Tory.
(sometimes lowercase) opposed to reform or radicalism; conservative.
a member or supporter of the Conservative Party in Great Britain or Canada
a member of the English political party that opposed the exclusion of James, Duke of York from the royal succession (1679–80). Tory remained the label for subsequent major conservative interests until they gave birth to the Conservative Party in the 1830s
an American supporter of the British cause; loyalist Compare Whig
(sometimes not capital) an ultraconservative or reactionary
(in the 17th century) an Irish Roman Catholic, esp an outlaw who preyed upon English settlers
of, characteristic of, or relating to Tories
(sometimes not capital) ultraconservative or reactionary
1640–50; < Irish *tóraighe outlaw, bandit, derivative of tóir chase, pursuit
< Latin -tōrius, equivalent to -tōr- -tor + -ius adj. suffix
< Latin -tōrium, noun use of neuter of -tōrius -tory 1
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Network contributor Tory Johnson has handled “Deals and Steals” since its launch and has long been one of the most familiar faces on “GMA.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
Many of the papers cover new details that have emerged in the investigation into former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe's death.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
Paying tribute, former Tory MP Edwina Currie described Widdecombe as a "brilliant" and "articulate" woman.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
Hailed as a victory for Mr. Cameron’s Tory unionism, the vote to stay was 55% to 45%.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
By the Common, the almshouse yard was thick that morning with Tory refugees fled to the city, groping now through the palings of the fence and clamoring for coin.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
The politician became a household name in the 1990s due to her socially conservative views that put her on the right of the Tories.
From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026
You can’t entirely blame him: It was he, after all, who led Labour to its historic July 2024 victory over Sunak and the Tories, winning 411 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons.
From Salon ● Jun. 24, 2026
The North East MSP defeated SNP candidate Richard Thomson, a former MP for Gordon, by a margin of more than 6,000 votes, with the Tories taking almost half of all ballots cast.
From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026
But Labour, the Tories and the Lib Dems all questioned whether Reform would find the money for the plans.
From BBC ● May 23, 2026
England, unable to find the individuals who had destroyed this valuable property, would punish the whole Town of Boston—make every man, woman, and child, Tories and Whigs alike, suffer until this tea was paid for.
From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
