the disposition to preserve or restore what is established and traditional and to limit change.
the principles and practices of political conservatives.
the form of conservatism advocated by the Conservative Party
the policies, doctrines, or practices of the Conservative Party
opposition to change and innovation
a political philosophy advocating the preservation of the best of the established order in society and opposing radical change
First recorded in 1825–35; conservat(ive) + -ism
When people discuss politics and mention the word conservatism, they're talking about a philosophy that favors making few changes in society, sticking with traditions, and often spending as little money as possible. Conservatism is most often used to describe the beliefs of right-wing politicians and the people who tend to vote for them. There are some who practice fiscal conservatism — which focuses on reducing spending and cutting budgets — while being more liberal socially. Social conservatism tends to favor things like traditional roles for women and men, and to object to major changes in society like same sex marriage. A person who embraces conservatism is called a conservative.
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Since its founding in 1999, the Club for Growth has been the primary enforcer of fiscal conservatism in Washington.
From Salon ● Jul. 11, 2026
For a body known for its conservatism, the warnings it contained were stark: “A major equity market correction could have larger economic consequences today than in the past.”
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 29, 2026
Asked where he now sits on a spectrum between Cameron-era conservatism and Trump-era populism, Hilton rejected the framing, arguing that both were political movements that did not define him "personally".
From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026
Yet Mr. Trump makes a distinction between conservatism and common sense.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 31, 2026
Was there anything about the Chinese environment predisposing toward Confucian philosophy and cultural conservatism, which may also have profoundly affected history?
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
But when the chief executive of the Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian legal advocacy group with a $130 million annual budget, addressed the National Conservatism conference in September, she gave a dark warning.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 18, 2025
This was the question Schmitt posed at the fifth annual National Conservatism Conference in Washington.
From Slate ● Sep. 5, 2025
Thiel has funded and spoken at the National Conservatism Conference, also known as NatCon, an annual gathering for the New Right.
From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2024
JD Vance, the Ohio senator chosen as Mr Trump's vice presidential candidate on Monday night, made the comments while at the National Conservatism conference in Washington DC last week.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2024
Egoism was reinforced by the ordinary reluctance of Conservatism, by a very honest hatred of agrarian crime, and by an equally honest if less reasonable fear of religious persecution.
From A Short History of English Liberalism by Blease, Walter Lyon
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.
