conformity

noun con·for·mi·ty \ kən-ˈfȯr-mə-tē \

Updated on: 12 Apr 2018

Definition of conformity

plural conformities

1 : correspondence in form, manner, or character : agreement

behaved in conformity with her beliefs

2 : an act or instance of conforming

her conformity with the latest fashions

3 : action in accordance with some specified standard or authority

conformity to social custom

conformity with the federal law and state insurance codes

See conformity defined for English-language learners

See conformity defined for kids

Examples of conformity in a Sentence

The corporate culture demands a certain conformity of appearance.
the simple lifestyle of the Amish is in conformity with their ascetic religious beliefs

Recent Examples of conformity from the Web

The idea of conformity is one of the major themes in the novel, which was published during an era when Communism thrived.

— sarah pulliam bailey, washington post, Houston Chronicle, "The deep faith of 'A Wrinkle in Time' author Madeleine L'Engle," 24 Mar. 2018
The Sahwa mostly fizzled, with some activists arrested and others coaxed into conformity, though admirers and its appeal lingered.

— staff, The Christian Science Monitor, "Saudi Arabia to reform education system and fight 'extremist ideologies'," 21 Mar. 2018
But such thinking puts her at increasing risk in a world where conformity is king.

— tim smith, baltimoresun.com, "Orwell's 'Animal Farm' stings at Center Stage," 13 Mar. 2018
Heitert and Lepionka have assured those who have expressed concern that a national register listing – unlike local historic districts – does not impose any conformity regulations.

— sarah shemkus, BostonGlobe.com, "A plan to keep Dogtown wild and free," 23 Mar. 2018
In a society that values conformity over individuality, the victims have been accused of hurting their industry's reputation.

— youkyung lee, The Christian Science Monitor, "#MeToo takes off in South Korea, but how far will it go?," 22 Mar. 2018
Modern American high schools are places of intense conformity.

— WSJ, "Notable & Quotable: A Conformist Rebellion," 16 Mar. 2018
Yet most Swiss laws have now been brought into conformity with EU norms—a requirement...

— Newsweek, "Amazing Photos of Bioluminescent Phytoplankton," 14 Mar. 2018
Meg’s adventure takes her far away to a planet named Camazotz, whose population is forced into extreme conformity, while Momo wages her battle closer to home.

— giulia pines, The Atlantic, "Why a Classic German Children's Tale Is Ripe for Revisiting," 12 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'conformity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.