conformity

[ kuhn-fawr-mi-tee ]

noun

, plural con·form·i·ties.

1. action in accord with prevailing social standards, attitudes, practices, etc.
2. correspondence in form, nature, or character; agreement, congruity, or accordance.
3. compliance or acquiescence; obedience.
4. (often initial capital letter) compliance with the usages of an established church, especially the Church of England.
5. Geology. the relationship between adjacent conformable strata. Compare unconformity ( def 2a ).

conformity

/ kənˈfɔːmɪtɪ /

noun

1. compliance in actions, behaviour, etc, with certain accepted standards or norms
2. correspondence or likeness in form or appearance; congruity; agreement
3. compliance with the practices of an established church

conformity

1. Agreement between an individual's behavior and a group's standards or expectations. A conformist is one who follows the majority's desires or standards. ( See also beatniks , bureaucrat , organization man (see also organization man ), peer group , and peer pressure .)

Other Words From

• anti·con·formi·ty noun plural anticonformities
• hyper·con·formi·ty noun
• precon·formi·ty noun
• semi·con·formi·ty noun
• super·con·formi·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of conformity¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English conformite, from Middle French, from Late Latin confōrmitās; equivalent to conform + -ity

Example Sentences

None of the studies complied with international standards on ethics and most “were not in conformity” with French biomedical law, the report found.

From Science Magazine

Conversations with Republican voters and speeches at the RNC made it clear that their idea of "unity" is conformity.

From Salon

There are brain pathways for copying and following others — in the cortex, dopamine system, and pain centers, to motivate conformity and violence.

From Salon

“Jesus of Suburbia” rejects suburban conformity, seeking meaning in a world that feels increasingly hostile and bewildering.

From Salon

There is no appreciation for literature, music, or visual art that does not serve a narrow, repressive agenda, and the masses confuse conformity with strength.

From Salon

Related Words

• consonance