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.
Tory MSP Meghan Gallacher noted that nearly seven in 10 of successful applicants to the government's previous First Home Fund had household income above the national average.
From BBC • May 27, 2026
Tory Gavito, the president of Way to Win, a progressive donor network and research organization, told Salon that she sees the autopsy as basically agnostic on what, if anything, the Democrats should stand for.
From Salon • May 22, 2026
"We have nothing like this in America, and I think Eurovision is phenomenal because it brings everybody together," Tory Huflar, an American fan, told AFP after Thursday's second semi-final.
From Barron's • May 16, 2026
And on the streets of L.A. — from Sunset and Rodeo to Melrose and Wilshire — colorful Tory Burch logo sandals abound.
From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026
But Dove, who was always swearing allegiance to England, and Johnny knew that he honestly was a Tory, was the butt of all their jokes.
From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes
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.
