conservative

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   avoiding excess

   a conservative estimate

2. 2
   noun

   A person who favors maintenance of the status quo.

   During the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s, this commitment brought him into frequent critical confrontation with entrenched forms of conservative thinking (in academic areas from history and social science to the more abstract domains of ethical and political philosophy),[…]

3. 3
   noun

   One who seeks to promote or preserve traditional values or institutions.

   If there’s a down side to the film, it’s that “Soros” probably doesn’t devote enough time to the way its subject has become a favorite bogeyman to conservatives that paint him as the guiding hand behind grassroots campaigns by those intent on discrediting them.

4. 4
   adj

   Cautious, moderate.

   The chef added a conservative amount of salt to the dish.

5. 5
   adj

   Tending to resist change or innovation.

   The curriculum committee at this university is extremely conservative.

6. 6
   adj

   Based on pessimistic assumptions, and on the low side.

   At a conservative estimate, growth may even be negative next year.

7. 7
   adj

   Supporting some combination of fiscal, political or social conservatism.

   Newspapers in "capitalist" ownership, universities presided over by "reactionary" governing bodies, broadcasting systems owned by conservative governments have all been known to influence public opinion in the direction of socialism, because this was the conviction of the personnel.

8. 8
   adj

   Relating to the Conservative Party.

   We have always been conscientiously attached to what is called the Tory, and which might with more propriety be called the Conservative, party.

Etymology

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