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

The restaurant is set in the hotel’s conservatory and features a menu centered on fresh, seasonal produce. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 June 2026

Elsewhere, the property features unique spaces like a card room, formal library and conservatory. —Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026

The system, Said insists, isn’t simply preserved in conservatories or academic settings. —Daniel Scheffler, SPIN, 15 June 2026

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

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)