Conservative

Origin

From Middle French conservatif, from Latin conservare

Full definition of conservative

Noun

1. A person who favors maintenance of the status quo or reversion to some earlier status.
2. (US, economics) A fiscal conservative
3. (US, politics) A political conservative
4. (US, social sciences) A social conservative.

Synonyms

• traditionalist
• right-winger

Coordinate terms

• moderate, liberal, progressive, libertarian, centrist

Adjective

1. Tending to resist change or innovation.The curriculum committee at this university is extremely conservative.
2. Based on pessimistic assumptions.At a conservative estimate, growth may even be negative next year.
3. (US, economics, politics, social sciences) Supporting some combination of fiscal, political or social conservatism.
4. (US, politics) Relating to the Republican Party, regardless of its conservatism.
5. (British, politics) Relating to the Conservative Party.
• 1830, Quarterly Rev.We have always been conscientiously attached to what is called the Tory, and which might with more propriety be called the Conservative, party.
6. (physics, notcomp) Neither creating nor destroying a given quantity.
7. Having power to preserve in a safe or entire state, or from loss, waste, or injury; preservative.

Related terms

• anticonservative
• Conservative
• conserve
• conservationist
• conservatism
• conservator
• fiscal conservative
• political conservative
• social conservative
• small-c conservative