con·ser·va·tive
kən-ˈsər-və-tiv 
1
a
: of or relating to a philosophy of conservatism
b
Conservative
: of or constituting a political party professing the principles of conservatism: such as
(1)
: of or constituting a party of the United Kingdom advocating support of established institutions
(2)
2
a
: tending or disposed to maintain existing views, conditions, or institutions : traditional
conservative policies
b
: marked by moderation or caution
a conservative estimate
c
: marked by or relating to traditional norms of taste, elegance, style, or manners
a conservative suit
a conservative architectural style
3
Conservative
: of, relating to, or practicing Conservative Judaism
4
conservatively
adverb
conservativeness
noun
1
a
: an adherent or advocate of political conservatism
b
Conservative
: a member or supporter of a conservative political party
2
a
: one who adheres to traditional methods or views
b
: a cautious or discreet person
Synonyms
Examples of conservative in a Sentence
Adjective
She is a liberal Democrat who married a conservative Republican.
She's more conservative now than she was in college.
Noun
His message is being well received by conservatives.
proposed legislation that was opposed by conservatives throughout the state
Recent Examples on the Web
Gary Fields and Adriana Gomez Licon, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Sep. 2023
The issue has laid bare tension between the LGBTQ+ community and socially conservative Muslims like the mayor.
—Allan Lengel, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Sep. 2023
The conservative Heritage Foundation issued a report in 2020 proposing the elimination of more than 80 Department of Education programs and moving 40 others to different agencies, such as the Treasury Department or Justice Department.
—Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2023
American Policy Coalition, a conservative dark-money group based in Alexandria, Va., gave $800,000 to Protect Our Constitution, the official pro-Issue 1 campaign group.
—cleveland, 16 Sep. 2023
In the end, the vote resembled many that take place in the staunchly conservative Texas Senate, where Mr. Patrick rules with a strong hand and legislation is adopted almost exclusively along party-line votes.
—David Montgomery, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2023
The verdict could propel the conservative Republican’s political future at home and potentially on the national stage.
—Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2023
Despite the best efforts of conservative media, even right-leaning members of the public can’t work up too much bile.
—Liza Featherstone, The New Republic, 15 Sep. 2023
The push to change Lexington’s curriculum is the latest example of what’s become a national trend of conservative groups and right-leaning parents raising objections to certain programs that teach about diversity and inclusion in public school districts.
—Daniel Kool, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2023
Marianna Sotomayor and Leigh Ann Caldwell, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Sep. 2023
While some conservatives were digging in against the plan, the prospect of a shutdown was alarming other Republicans, including those from swing districts carried by Biden in 2020, who could feel the political backlash from a government closure.
—Carl Hulse, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2023
Last week, Johnson demanded the Senate take up each appropriations bill one by one, which has held up the process, emphasizing that combining the bills could weaken the influence conservatives could have over the spending bills.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, Washington Examiner, 18 Sep. 2023
The president's son Hunter was indicted on gun charges and House conservatives doubled down on their threat to shut down the government.
—Nbc Universal, NBC News, 17 Sep. 2023
The disaffection among conservatives has spawned a movement to change the state’s political dynamic in a novel if quixotic way — rather than relocate or change the politics, which seems impossible to many here, why not move the border and become residents who live under the rules of Idaho?
—Scott Wilson, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023
The conservatives are willing to risk a government shutdown to win their goal of major spending cuts and historic changes in the way Congress enacts budgets.
—Dave Goldiner New York Daily News (tns), al, 15 Sep. 2023
Findings from the Texas Politics Project just a few days ago indicate 79 percent of Texas conservatives hold a favorable view of the former president—a much greater share than that of establishment candidate Ron DeSantis, who holds favorability with 67 percent.
—Morgan O'Hanlon, The New Republic, 14 Sep. 2023
Among the concessions McCarthy made to conservatives in order to secure enough support to win the speaker's gavel in January was a rule that allows a single member to force a vote to oust the speaker.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 12 Sep. 2023
See More
Adjective
The new map essentially drew Democratic US Representative Al Lawson, who is Black, out of office by carving up his district and dividing a large number of Black voters into conservative districts represented by white Republicans.
—Gary Fields and Adriana Gomez Licon, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Sep. 2023
The issue has laid bare tension between the LGBTQ+ community and socially conservative Muslims like the mayor.
—Allan Lengel, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Sep. 2023
The conservative Heritage Foundation issued a report in 2020 proposing the elimination of more than 80 Department of Education programs and moving 40 others to different agencies, such as the Treasury Department or Justice Department.
—Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2023
American Policy Coalition, a conservative dark-money group based in Alexandria, Va., gave $800,000 to Protect Our Constitution, the official pro-Issue 1 campaign group.
—cleveland, 16 Sep. 2023
In the end, the vote resembled many that take place in the staunchly conservative Texas Senate, where Mr. Patrick rules with a strong hand and legislation is adopted almost exclusively along party-line votes.
—David Montgomery, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2023
The verdict could propel the conservative Republican’s political future at home and potentially on the national stage.
—Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2023
Despite the best efforts of conservative media, even right-leaning members of the public can’t work up too much bile.
—Liza Featherstone, The New Republic, 15 Sep. 2023
The push to change Lexington’s curriculum is the latest example of what’s become a national trend of conservative groups and right-leaning parents raising objections to certain programs that teach about diversity and inclusion in public school districts.
—Daniel Kool, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2023
Noun
While the deal is expected to appease a significant amount of conservatives, including several in the House Freedom Caucus, Republican leaders now face the difficult task of ensuring the bill passes through their razor-thin margins.
—Marianna Sotomayor and Leigh Ann Caldwell, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Sep. 2023
While some conservatives were digging in against the plan, the prospect of a shutdown was alarming other Republicans, including those from swing districts carried by Biden in 2020, who could feel the political backlash from a government closure.
—Carl Hulse, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2023
Last week, Johnson demanded the Senate take up each appropriations bill one by one, which has held up the process, emphasizing that combining the bills could weaken the influence conservatives could have over the spending bills.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, Washington Examiner, 18 Sep. 2023
The president's son Hunter was indicted on gun charges and House conservatives doubled down on their threat to shut down the government.
—Nbc Universal, NBC News, 17 Sep. 2023
The disaffection among conservatives has spawned a movement to change the state’s political dynamic in a novel if quixotic way — rather than relocate or change the politics, which seems impossible to many here, why not move the border and become residents who live under the rules of Idaho?
—Scott Wilson, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023
The conservatives are willing to risk a government shutdown to win their goal of major spending cuts and historic changes in the way Congress enacts budgets.
—Dave Goldiner New York Daily News (tns), al, 15 Sep. 2023
Findings from the Texas Politics Project just a few days ago indicate 79 percent of Texas conservatives hold a favorable view of the former president—a much greater share than that of establishment candidate Ron DeSantis, who holds favorability with 67 percent.
—Morgan O'Hanlon, The New Republic, 14 Sep. 2023
Among the concessions McCarthy made to conservatives in order to secure enough support to win the speaker's gavel in January was a rule that allows a single member to force a vote to oust the speaker.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 12 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'conservative.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English conservatif "tending to protect or preserve," borrowed from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Late Latin conservātīvus, from Latin conservātus, past participle of conservāre "to save or keep from danger, preserve, keep unchanged" + -īvus -ive — more at conserve entry 1
Noun
derivative of conservative entry 1
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4
Noun
1831, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of conservative was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing conservative
Dictionary Entries Near conservative
Cite this Entry
“Conservative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conservative. Accessed 22 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
conservative
1 of 2 adjective
con·ser·va·tive
kən-ˈsər-vət-iv
1
: tending to conserve or preserve
2
: of or relating to conservatism
3
: tending to preserve existing views, conditions, or institutions : traditional
5
: being in agreement with the usual standards of taste or manners
a conservative suit
a conservative dresser
conservatively
adverb
conservativeness
noun
conservative
2 of 2 noun
: a person who is conservative especially in politics
Medical Definition
conservative
adjective
con·ser·va·tive
kən-ˈsər-vət-iv
: not extreme or drastic
especially
: designed to preserve parts or restore or preserve function
conservative treatment of prostate cancer by watchful waiting or hormonal therapy in contrast to radical prostatectomy
compare aggressive sense 3, radical entry 1
conservatively
adverb
More from Merriam-Webster on conservative
Nglish: Translation of conservative for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of conservative for Arabic Speakers
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