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neoconservatism

American  
[nee-oh-kuhn-sur-vuh-tiz-uhm] / ˌni oʊ kənˈsɜr vəˌtɪz əm /

noun

  1. a faction of the conservative political movement that heavily supports the promotion of democracy abroad through military intervention.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of neoconservatism

First recorded in 1960–65; neo- + conservatism

Vocabulary lists containing neoconservatism

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.

See Examples For:

Most presidential administrations have claimed to operate according to a foreign policy doctrine of some kind: for instance, neoconservatism, liberal internationalism, isolationism, or realpolitik.

From Salon Mar. 14, 2026

Podhoretz was an intellectual leader, a facilitator of other writers, and a major figure in what has come to be known as neoconservatism.

From The Wall Street Journal Dec. 26, 2025

Along with her husband and other New York-based intellectuals — including editor and essayist Irving Kristol and his wife, historian Gertrude Himmelfarb — Mrs. Decter was considered one of the founders of neoconservatism.

From Washington Post May 9, 2022

Professor Kagan was later associated with neoconservatism, though he objected to both the label and the affiliation.

From New York Times Aug. 13, 2021

Thus, this great British parliamentarian was the founder of the school of thought known today as neoconservatism.

From Slate Apr. 7, 2017

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