conservatory

American  

[kuhn-sur-vuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / kənˈsɜr vəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

noun

conservatories plural

1. a school giving instruction in one or more of the fine or dramatic arts; specifically, a school of music.

2. a greenhouse, usually attached to a dwelling, for growing and displaying plants.

3. Archaic. a place where things are preserved.

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adjective

1. serving or adapted to conserve; preservative.

conservatory British  

/ kənˈsɜːvətrɪ /

noun

1. a greenhouse, esp one attached to a house

2. another word for conservatoire

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adjective

1. preservative

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• conservatories
  plural

Etymology

Origin of conservatory

1555–65; < Latin conservā ( re ) ( see conserve) + -tory ²; in the sense “music school” < French or Italian; see conservatoire

Explanation

A conservatory is a place to grow. It could be one of those glass greenhouses where rare and delicate plants can thrive. Or it could be a place to grow your artistic talent — like a music conservatory. A conservatory can conserve more than just plants; it can conserve culture, too. And so we have the conservatory as a school for the fine arts, in particular ballet and classical music — often known by their fancy French title, conservatoire. The word comes from the Latin word conservare, meaning "to preserve."

Example Sentences

Instead, he enrolled in music classes at Juilliard, the prestigious conservatory, and played in dance bands.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 22, 2026

“A soaring two-story glass conservatory, expansive living and dining rooms, and an open-concept kitchen with sliding glass doors invite seamless indoor-outdoor living while overlooking the skyline,” the description went on.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

Ms. Margulis recalls her studies at a music conservatory, steeped as it was in the view that music operated “in some ethereal realm,” pure and detached from the world.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

The training orchestra guides young musicians with conservatory backgrounds into the world of professional orchestras.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

“Yes, she reports there are alligators. Our parents are English. Jewish, you see. They teach in a music conservatory in Austria. They insisted we evacuate from Vienna. There were no alligators there.”

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin