conventional
Americanadjective
-
conforming or adhering to accepted standards, as of conduct or taste.
conventional behavior.
-
pertaining to convention or general agreement; established by general consent or accepted usage; arbitrarily determined.
conventional symbols.
-
ordinary rather than different or original.
conventional phraseology.
-
not using, making, or involving nuclear weapons or energy; nonnuclear.
conventional warfare.
-
Art.
-
in accordance with an accepted manner, model, or tradition.
-
(of figurative art) represented in a generalized or simplified manner.
-
-
of or relating to a convention, agreement, or compact.
-
Law. resting on consent, express or implied.
-
of or relating to a convention or assembly.
adjective
-
following the accepted customs and proprieties, esp in a way that lacks originality
conventional habits
-
established by accepted usage or general agreement
-
of or relating to a convention or assembly
-
law based upon the agreement or consent of parties
-
arts represented in a simplified or generalized way; conventionalized
-
(of weapons, warfare, etc) not nuclear
noun
Synonym Usage
See formal 1.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of conventional
From the Late Latin word conventiōnālis, dating back to 1575–85. See convention, -al 1
Explanation
Conventional is an adjective for things that are normal, ordinary, and following the accepted way. Ho-hum. This word describes what is typical and ordinary and that which follows accepted standards of behavior or taste. This is a word that's current definition is still very similar to its Latin root, conventionalis, which is "pertaining to an agreement." One way this word is used is with respect to conventional weapons, as in those "not using, making, or involving nuclear weapons or energy; nonnuclear."
Vocabulary lists containing conventional
30 GRE Words Beginning with "B" & "C"
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!
Essential English Vocabulary, List 2
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!
The Omnivore's Dilemma
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!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Electric vehicles can also accelerate and decelerate much more quickly than conventional combustion cars, which Di Giulio says can cause motion sickness.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
NbN remained strongly superconducting until the current reached a distinct threshold that was far higher than its conventional DC critical current.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 2, 2026
No conventional idea of justice, be it carceral or social, can reverse the harm that’s already been done.
From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2026
Unlike money held in a conventional bank account, cryptocurrency is often controlled directly by the owner through digital wallets or physical storage devices.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
He tells Van Rappard that as he goes forward with his own art and gets better, he should not be conventional; he should be bold.
From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman
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.
