conservative

B1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /kənˈsɝvətɪv/ UK /kənˈsɜːvətɪv/ See IPA manual

Freq #8046

Meanings

1

adj
Not liking change; preferring traditional ways of doing things.

My grandparents have quite conservative views about family life.
2

adj
Deliberately low or cautious so as not to exaggerate.

At a conservative estimate, the repairs will cost a thousand dollars.
3

noun
A person who supports traditional values and opposes major change.

Conservatives tend to favour keeping established institutions.
4

adj
Relating to a Conservative political party.

The conservative government cut taxes during its first year.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 adj · deliberately low or... cautious moderate

Word family

Forms conservatives

Derived forms anticonservativearchconservativebiconservativebioconservativecancervativeconservaloonconservaphobiaconservatardconservatarianconservatiseconservative-libertarianismconservatively

Related forms conservationist conservatism conservator conserve liberaltory

Appears in

Proverbs (2)

See all

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French conservatif, from Latin cōnservō (“to preserve”). Equivalent to conserve + -ative.

cōnservō Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# conservative

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /kənˈsɝvətɪv/
**IPA (UK):** /kənˈsɜːvətɪv/
**Frequency rank:** 8046

## Meanings
1. Not liking change; preferring traditional ways of doing things.
2. Deliberately low or cautious so as not to exaggerate.
3. A person who supports traditional values and opposes major change.
4. Relating to a Conservative political party.

## Examples
- My grandparents have quite conservative views about family life.
- At a conservative estimate, the repairs will cost a thousand dollars.
- Conservatives tend to favour keeping established institutions.
- The conservative government cut taxes during its first year.

## Derived Forms
- anticonservative
- archconservative
- biconservative
- bioconservative
- cancervative
- conservaloon
- conservaphobia
- conservatard
- conservatarian
- conservatise
- conservative-libertarianism
- conservatively

## Related Forms
- conservationist
- conservatism
- conservator
- conserve
- liberal
- tory

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: cōnservō

## Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French conservatif, from Latin cōnservō (“to preserve”). Equivalent to conserve + -ative.

## AI Etymology
conservative is an adjective and noun. It was borrowed from Middle French conservatif, from Latin cōnservō (“to preserve”). Equivalent to conserve + -ative. Historical forms in the chain include cōnservō (Latin). Current senses include not liking change; preferring traditional ways of doing things, deliberately low or cautious so as not to exaggerate, and a person who supports traditional values and opposes major change. Derived forms include anticonservative, archconservative, biconservative, bioconservative, and cancervative. Related words include conservationist, conservatism, conservator, and conserve.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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