conservatism

American  

[kuhn-sur-vuh-tiz-uhm] / kənˈsɜr vəˌtɪz əm /

noun

1. the disposition to preserve or restore what is established and traditional and to limit change.

2. the principles and practices of political conservatives.

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conservatism ¹ British  

/ kənˈsɜːvəˌtɪzəm /

noun

1. opposition to change and innovation

2. a political philosophy advocating the preservation of the best of the established order in society and opposing radical change

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Conservatism ² British  

/ kənˈsɜːvəˌtɪzəm /

noun

1. the form of conservatism advocated by the Conservative Party

2. the policies, doctrines, or practices of the Conservative Party

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conservatism Cultural  

1. A general preference for the existing order of society, and an opposition to efforts to bring about sharp change. (Compare liberalism.)

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Other Word Forms

• anticonservatism noun
• hyperconservatism noun
• overconservatism noun

Etymology

Origin of conservatism

First recorded in 1825–35; conservat(ive) + -ism

Example Sentences

Among its recommendation, the postmortem called on the party to develop “a more welcoming brand of conservatism” and suggested an extensive set of “inclusion” proposals for minority groups, including Latinos, Asians and African Americans.

From Los Angeles Times

“They had some significant conservatism in how they ran the shop, but it went from being a bank in a tough spot to a really good firm.”

From The Wall Street Journal

The furor ramps up the pressure to reform Lloyd’s, which has a centurieslong history of product innovation and marked cultural conservatism.

From The Wall Street Journal

The 2028 financial targets didn’t surprise positively overall, partly due to the company’s plan to move away from lower-margin businesses and possibly some conservatism, he says.

From The Wall Street Journal

Mr. George has played an essential role in articulating and advancing a robust social conservatism rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition and the American founding.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• moderation
• orthodoxy