conservative
[ kuhn-sur-vuh-tiv ]
/ kənˈsɜr və tɪv /
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adjective
noun
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Origin of conservative
1350–1400; <Late Latin conservātīvus, equivalent to Latin conservāt(us) (see conservation) + -īvus-ive; replacing Middle English conservatif < Middle French <Latin, as above
OTHER WORDS FROM conservative
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use conservative in a sentence
The conservative Media Research Center has posted a public letter urging supporters not to listen to non-conservative media.
Conservative Media Warns Readers Not to Listen to 'The Media'|David Frum|September 26, 2012|DAILY BEASTShe was, to give her some credit, the first speaker of the night who tried to reach out to non-conservative voters.
British Dictionary definitions for conservative (1 of 2)
conservative
/ (kənˈsɜːvətɪv) /
adjective
noun
a person who is reluctant to change or consider new ideas; conformist
a supporter or advocate of conservatism
adjective, noun
a less common word for preservative
Derived forms of conservative
conservatively, adverbconservativeness, nounBritish Dictionary definitions for conservative (2 of 2)
Conservative
/ (kənˈsɜːvətɪv) /
adjective (in Britain, Canada, and elsewhere)
of, supporting, or relating to a Conservative Party
of, relating to, or characterizing Conservative Judaism
noun
a supporter or member of a Conservative Party
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Cultural definitions for conservative
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.