conservatory

noun

con·​ser·​va·​to·​ry kən-ˈsər-və-ˌtȯr-ē 

plural conservatories

1

: a greenhouse for growing or displaying plants

2

: a school specializing in one of the fine arts

a music conservatory

Synonyms of conservatory

• greenhouse

Examples of conservatory in a Sentence

the Peabody Conservatory of Music

the college's conservatory is entirely devoted to cultivating and displaying orchids

Recent Examples on the Web

On Saturday, the zoo and conservatory were evacuated due to a bomb threat that turned out to be a false alarm. —Wcco Staff, CBS News, 8 June 2026

The second portrait was taken in the conservatory of Gatcombe Park, the home of Peter Phillips' mother Princess Anne — who hosted the couple's reception. —Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026

On Monday, Mrozinski brought her own cladogram to the conservatory. —Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 8 June 2026

The backstory This historic, neo-Gothic style building has held many lives, first as the national savings bank and later as a music conservatory. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin conservātōrium "something that preserves" (Medieval Latin, "fish pond"), from Latin conservāre "to save or keep from danger, preserve" + -tōrium, suffix of places (from neuter of -tōrius, deverbal adjective suffix originally forming derivatives from agent nouns ending in -tōr-, -tor); (sense 2) after Italian conservatorio, originally denoting a home for foundlings and orphans who were given a musical education — more at conserve entry 1

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

conservatory

noun

con·​ser·​va·​to·​ry kən-ˈsər-və-ˌtōr-ē 

-ˌtȯr-

plural conservatories

1

: a greenhouse for growing or displaying plants

2

: a place of instruction in some special study (as music)