conventional

[ kuhn-ven-shuh-nl ]

adjective

1. conforming or adhering to accepted standards, as of conduct or taste:

   conventional behavior.

2. pertaining to convention or general agreement; established by general consent or accepted usage; arbitrarily determined:

   conventional symbols.

   Synonyms: customary, habitual, usual

3. ordinary rather than different or original:

   conventional phraseology.

4. not using, making, or involving nuclear weapons or energy; nonnuclear:

   conventional warfare.

5. Art.
   1. in accordance with an accepted manner, model, or tradition.
   2. (of figurative art) represented in a generalized or simplified manner.
6. of or relating to a convention, agreement, or compact.
7. Law. resting on consent, express or implied.
8. of or relating to a convention or assembly.

conventional

/ kənˈvɛnʃənəl /

adjective

1. following the accepted customs and proprieties, esp in a way that lacks originality

   conventional habits

2. established by accepted usage or general agreement
3. of or relating to a convention or assembly
4. law based upon the agreement or consent of parties
5. arts represented in a simplified or generalized way; conventionalized
6. (of weapons, warfare, etc) not nuclear

noun

1. bridge another word for convention

Derived Forms

• conˈventionally, adverb

Other Words From

• con·vention·al·ist noun
• con·vention·al·ly adverb
• anti·con·vention·al adjective
• anti·con·vention·al·ly adverb
• anti·con·vention·al·ist noun adjective
• noncon·vention·al adjective
• noncon·vention·al·ly adverb
• quasi-con·vention·al adjective
• quasi-con·vention·al·ly adverb
• semi·con·vention·al adjective
• semi·con·vention·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of conventional¹

From the Late Latin word conventiōnālis, dating back to 1575–85. See convention, -al ¹

Synonym Study

See formal ¹.

Example Sentences

This enables ANE measurements with a much better resolution than conventional light microscopy allows.

From Science Daily

The challenge: if conventional speaking valves are used improperly, dangerous overpressure can occur, which can cause serious complications and even death.

From Science Daily

This is one of those pictures where the actors outdo the conventional material they are given to work with.

From New York Times

There are competent if conventional scenes of fog-laden meadows and villages silhouetted against distant skies.

From New York Times

And he does lack all those things, as well as pretty much any conventional bourgeois virtue you can name.

From Salon

Related Words

• current
• ordinary
• regular
• traditional
• typical