conservative

Pluralconservatives, Conservatives

1. 1
   right of centeradjective

   Favoring fiscal, political or social conservatism, or some mix of the three.

   The bill drew support from conservative lawmakers who wanted to cut federal spending.

   She writes for a conservative magazine based in Calgary.

   UsageOften narrowed with an adverb: fiscally conservative, socially conservative.

   Similarright-wing

   Oppositeliberal, progressive, left-wing

   Note

   As an adjective the label attaches to anything that can take a side: lawmakers, magazines, governments, even conspiracy theorists. F. A. Hayek's “The Intellectuals and Socialism” (1949) observes that broadcasting systems owned by conservative governments have been known to push opinion toward socialism.

2. 2
   nouncountable

   Someone who works to preserve traditional values and institutions, especially in politics, sometimes in one area only, as a fiscal or social conservative.

   A lifelong conservative, he defended the monarchy as the anchor of the nation's institutions.

   The senator has become a hero to conservatives who see marriage and religion under threat.

   UsageLower case for the outlook; with a capital, a Conservative belongs to or backs a Conservative Party. Often a fiscal or social conservative.

   Similartraditionalist

   Oppositeprogressive

   Note

   Politics narrows the word: where the everyday sense covers anyone who would leave things as they are, here the conservative defends particular inheritances, from values to institutions.

3. 3
   British partyadjectiveBritish

   Connected with Britain's Conservative Party, its members, or its policies.

   Several Conservative MPs rebelled against the government over the new housing targets.

   The constituency has returned a Conservative member at every election for decades.

   UsageWritten with a capital and usually before a noun: Conservative MPs, a Conservative government.

   SimilarTory

   Note

   The label was put forward as a better name for an old party: in 1830 the Quarterly Review declared itself attached to “what is called the Tory, and which might with more propriety be called the Conservative, party.”

4. 4
   cautiousadjective

   Cautious and moderate rather than bold or excessive.

   He's a conservative driver who stays in the slow lane and never speeds.

   The team played a conservative game, protecting its lead rather than chasing more goals.

   Similarcautious, moderate, careful, prudent

   Oppositebold, aggressive

5. 5
   noun · ConservativeBritishCanadacountable

   A person who belongs to or backs a political party named the Conservative Party, especially the one in Britain or in Canada, usually written with a capital C.

   A Conservative since his student days, he later stood for Parliament in his home town.

   Opposition MPs attacked the Conservatives' plan to hand the struggling rail firm more public money.

   UsageOne member is a Conservative; the Conservatives means the party, or the government while it is in power.

   Note

   With the and in the plural, the word stands for the party as a whole, and while the party governs, for the government: in 2023 Labour's Louise Haigh, as shadow transport secretary, said the Conservatives' answer to a failing rail operator was to reward failure with millions more in taxpayer cash.

6. 6
   set in waysadjective

   Inclined to resist change or innovation.

   The hospital board was too conservative to approve the new scheduling system.

   Fans of the band are surprisingly conservative and complain whenever it changes its sound.

   Similarhidebound

   Oppositeprogressive, innovative, radical

7. 7
   adjective

   Worked out cautiously, erring on the safe side: usually kept low, but high where underestimating is the risk, as with costs.

   Conservative estimates put the crowd at forty thousand, though organizers claimed far more.

   Using conservative assumptions about sales, the company still expects a profit next year.

   UsageUsually with figures: a conservative estimate, at a conservative estimate, conservative assumptions.

   Similarcautious, low

   Oppositeoptimistic

   Note

   It turns up in the set phrase at a conservative estimate, which usually puts a figure forward as a floor rather than a guess: the speaker has leaned toward the low side, so the true number is, if anything, higher. That is why a large figure called conservative sounds all the more impressive. With costs, where underestimating is the risk, a conservative figure leans high instead.

8. 8
   plain lookadjective

   Conventional, traditional and understated in style and appearance, with nothing extreme, excessive, trendy or loud.

   For her interview at the bank, she chose a conservative navy suit, low heels and a single pair of small earrings.

   She kept her makeup conservative for the job interview.

   Similarconventional, traditional, sober, understated, restrained

   Oppositeflashy, loud, showy, trendy

   Note

   Dress codes and style advice use it as praise for restraint: a conservative suit, tie or haircut follows convention and does not call attention to itself. It says nothing about the wearer's politics. Its opposites are the faddish, the extreme and the loud.

9. 9
   no surgeryadjective

   Of medical treatment, avoiding surgery or other invasive or drastic measures.

   The orthopedist recommended a conservative approach of bracing and physical therapy for the torn ligament.

   After six weeks of conservative treatment failed to relieve the pain, the surgeon scheduled an operation.

   UsageSet phrases: conservative treatment, conservative management, conservative care. The opposite is surgical, not liberal.

   Similarnonsurgical, noninvasive

   Oppositesurgical, invasive

   Note

   Doctors use it for the cautious approach: treating the problem without cutting, often as a first step, with surgery held in reserve for patients in whom it fails.

10. 10
    Jewish branchadjective

    Belonging to or connected with Conservative Judaism.

    She trained as a Conservative rabbi before taking a post in Chicago.

    The couple were married in a Conservative ceremony by a rabbi from their congregation.

    UsageWritten with a capital: a Conservative rabbi, a Conservative synagogue.

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