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Synonyms

conventional

American  
[kuhn-ven-shuh-nl] / kənˈvɛn ʃə nl /

adjective

  1. conforming or adhering to accepted standards, as of conduct or taste.

    conventional behavior.

  2. pertaining to convention or general agreement; established by general consent or accepted usage; arbitrarily determined.

    conventional symbols.

    Synonyms:
    customary, habitual, usual
  3. ordinary rather than different or original.

    conventional phraseology.

  4. not using, making, or involving nuclear weapons or energy; nonnuclear.

    conventional warfare.

  5. Art.

    1. in accordance with an accepted manner, model, or tradition.

    2. (of figurative art) represented in a generalized or simplified manner.

  6. of or relating to a convention, agreement, or compact.

  7. Law. resting on consent, express or implied.

  8. of or relating to a convention or assembly.


conventional British  
/ kənˈvɛnʃənəl /

adjective

  1. following the accepted customs and proprieties, esp in a way that lacks originality

    conventional habits

  2. established by accepted usage or general agreement

  3. of or relating to a convention or assembly

  4. law based upon the agreement or consent of parties

  5. arts represented in a simplified or generalized way; conventionalized

  6. (of weapons, warfare, etc) not nuclear

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. bridge another word for convention

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See formal 1.

Other Word Forms

  • anticonventional adjective
  • anticonventionalist noun
  • anticonventionally adverb
  • conventionalist noun
  • conventionally adverb
  • nonconventional adjective
  • nonconventionally adverb
  • quasi-conventional adjective
  • quasi-conventionally adverb
  • semiconventional adjective
  • semiconventionally adverb

Etymology

Origin of conventional

From the Late Latin word conventiōnālis, dating back to 1575–85. See convention, -al 1

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.

Skilled plumbers and electricians can take home good incomes soon after training, making vocational paths like trade schools and apprenticeships attractive alternatives to the conventional college route.

From The Wall Street Journal

These products have higher added value, enjoy stickier consumer demand, and are less vulnerable to the boom-and-bust pricing cycles of conventional commodity eggs.

From Barron's

And though “Sinners” was a more conventional monetary success on top of being a dialogue-starter, “Marty Supreme” has gotten viewers talking even without a massive box office return.

From Salon

Because of this shift in physics, conventional robotic designs fail.

From Science Daily

This design offers a key advantage over conventional hollow-core fibers, which can take months to fill with atomic vapor.

From Science Daily