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.

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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

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noun

1. bridge another word for convention

Synonym Usage

See formal ¹.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

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."

Example Sentences

Lady Donaldson faces a trial of the facts after she was previously deemed unfit to face a conventional trial on mental health grounds, and is therefore not participating in proceedings.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

Michael, in “All Her Fault” you are playing someone who could be a much more conventional detective character, but reveals more layers.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

This is one reason researchers see Polygonum multiflorum as potentially broader than conventional treatments that focus on a single target.

From Science Daily • Jun. 7, 2026

Utilities and real estate investment trusts rose on Friday about 0.9% and 0.7%, respectively, while home builders, airlines, and conventional infrastructure stocks slipped only modestly.

From Barron's • Jun. 6, 2026

But the war had modified even his standards; all forms of physical exercise had become conventional for the Duration.

From "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles

Related Words

• current
• ordinary
• regular
• traditional
• typical