Definition of conservatism
1 capitalized a : the principles and policies of a Conservative partyb : the Conservative party
2a : disposition in politics to preserve what is establishedb : a political philosophy based on tradition and social stability, stressing established institutions, and preferring gradual development to abrupt change; specifically : such a philosophy calling for lower taxes, limited government regulation of business and investing, a strong national defense, and individual financial responsibility for personal needs (such as retirement income or health-care coverage)
3 : the tendency to prefer an existing or traditional situation to change religious conservatism cultural conservatism
From the M-W Editors
Examples of conservatism in a Sentence
the state's well-known conservatism means that progressive legislation always has an uphill battle
Origin and Etymology of conservatism
see 1conserve
First Known Use: 1815
Other Government and Politics Terms
CONSERVATISM Defined for English Language Learners
conservatism
playDefinition of conservatism for English Language Learners
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: belief in the value of established and traditional practices in politics and society
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: dislike of change or new ideas in a particular area
Learn More about conservatism
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See words that rhyme with conservatism Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for conservatism Spanish Central: Translation of conservatism Nglish: Translation of conservatism for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about conservatism
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