a member of the Conservative Party in Great Britain or Canada.
a member of a political party in Great Britain from the late 17th century to about 1832 that favored royal authority over Parliament and the preservation of the existing social and political order: succeeded by the Conservative party.
(often lowercase) an advocate of conservative principles; one opposed to reform or radicalism.
a person who supported the British cause in the American Revolution; a loyalist.
(in the 17th century) a dispossessed Irishman who resorted to banditry, especially after the invasion of Oliver Cromwell and suppression of the royalist cause (1649–52).
a male or female given name.
of, belonging to, or characteristic of the Tories.
being a Tory.
(sometimes lowercase) opposed to reform or radicalism; conservative.
a member or supporter of the Conservative Party in Great Britain or Canada
a member of the English political party that opposed the exclusion of James, Duke of York from the royal succession (1679–80). Tory remained the label for subsequent major conservative interests until they gave birth to the Conservative Party in the 1830s
an American supporter of the British cause; loyalist Compare Whig
(sometimes not capital) an ultraconservative or reactionary
(in the 17th century) an Irish Roman Catholic, esp an outlaw who preyed upon English settlers
of, characteristic of, or relating to Tories
(sometimes not capital) ultraconservative or reactionary
1640–50; < Irish *tóraighe outlaw, bandit, derivative of tóir chase, pursuit
< Latin -tōrius, equivalent to -tōr- -tor + -ius adj. suffix
< Latin -tōrium, noun use of neuter of -tōrius -tory 1
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Network contributor Tory Johnson has handled “Deals and Steals” since its launch and has long been one of the most familiar faces on “GMA.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
He is a father of two, and the son of billionaire businessman and Tory peer Michael Spencer.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
In 1932 a Tory historian called Disraeli “the recreator of our party,” framing Conservatives as the defenders of a democratic politics as totalitarian movements loomed abroad.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
Keir Starmer, who took the post two years ago, ending 14 years of Tory rule, announced his resignation on Monday, almost 10 years to the day that Britain voted to leave the European Union.
From Slate ● Jun. 23, 2026
He loved the admiration he saw on every face—grooms dropping curry-combs, officers looking out of windows and talking to each other and nodding toward Goblin, chambermaids, rich Tory gentlemen—all stopped to stare when Goblin played.
From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes
The politician became a household name in the 1990s due to her socially conservative views that put her on the right of the Tories.
From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026
You can’t entirely blame him: It was he, after all, who led Labour to its historic July 2024 victory over Sunak and the Tories, winning 411 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons.
From Salon ● Jun. 24, 2026
The Scottish Tories had not gained a seat in a Westminster by-election since 1967, when they took Glasgow Pollok from Labour.
From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026
Both the Tories and Labour said Farage has questions to answer over it.
From BBC ● May 14, 2026
James Rivington, the man who printed the Gazette, was one of New York’s best known Tories.
From "George Washington, Spymaster" by Thomas B. Allen
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.
