conformist

American  

[kuhn-fawr-mist] / kənˈfɔr mɪst /

noun

conformists plural

1. a person who conforms, especially unquestioningly, to the usual practices or standards of a group, society, etc.

2. (often initial capital letter) a person who conforms to the usages of an established church, especially the Church of England.

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adjective

1. of or characterized by conforming, especially in action or appearance.

conformist British  

/ kənˈfɔːmɪst /

noun

1. a person who adopts the attitudes, behaviour, dress, etc of the group to which he belongs

2. a person who complies with the practices of an established church, esp the Church of England

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adjective

1. of a conforming nature or character

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• anticonformist
  noun
• conformism
  noun
• hyperconformist
  noun
• semiconformist
  noun
• superconformist
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• conformists
  plural

Etymology

Origin of conformist

First recorded in 1625–35; conform + -ist

Explanation

A conformist is a person who follows traditional standards of conduct. If you're a conformist, it's unlikely you'll join a revolution to overthrow your government; instead you'll argue that it's best to keep things the way they are. Conformist comes from the Old French word conformer, which means "to agree to, make or be similar, be agreeable." People sometimes use the term conformist in a negative way, as an insult implying that someone doesn't have the brains or the guts to question the status quo. Conformist can also be used as an adjective to describe something that follows convention and established customs. A conformist school board, for example, would follow the usual time-tested curriculum.

Example Sentences

Over the long term, this can mean a changed society as more conformist and compliant speech and culture become more widely accepted and entrenched.

From Salon • May 28, 2026

The teachers are good, but the vibe there is comparatively bureaucratic and conformist, Sealey said.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2025

But if, like me, you think today’s media is somehow unprecedentedly conformist, consider 2022’s “City of Newsmen: Public Lies and Professional Secrets in Cold War Washington” by Kathryn J. McGarr.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025

"Attending a concert is a mix of bragging rights, being a conformist and being part of the scene," he says.

From BBC • Sep. 28, 2024

I just can’t be a conformist like most of the girls on the team.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers