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

• 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

Every conservatory has a film department now and, with AI, more people have access to tools to create soundtracks. —Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025

The Encore spans two decades, beginning at a prestigious Boston conservatory in 2003, where readers meet a future indie rock star who will spend the subsequent years trying to outrun her demons, per Izon. —Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025

Families shouldn’t miss the island’s two butterfly conservatories, Wings of Mackinac and The Original Butterfly House. —Christine Chitnis, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025

Should the mood strike for a soirée fit for a king, the home’s living room and conservatory can easily accommodate 200 for a cocktail party. —Madeline Weinfield, Architectural Digest, 17 Sep. 2025

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)