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

However, despite fielding seven forwards on the bench in the 32-15 win over Scotland, head coach Rassie Erasmus has opted for a conventional five forwards-three backs split among his replacements.

From BBC

Rubio, a rather conventional Republican, has worked hard to earn Trump's favor and spoke forcefully on his behalf in recent years, but he was not part of his old guard of supporters and is viewed with suspicion by those who are.

From Salon

The conventional wisdom has it that, thanks to production delays caused by the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes, the pickings are slim this year, which is true provided you adhere to a narrow parameter of what defines a movie or performance being “Oscar-worthy.”

From Los Angeles Times

Our media is tuned to telling a very conventional and predictable story about the United States of America, and that story does not allow for true examinations of those things lest the media actually engage in critical self-reflection and ask really hard questions about itself and its role in these great problems.

From Salon

By conventional metrics, it has not come close.

From Slate

Related Words

• current
• ordinary
• regular
• traditional
• typical