conservatism

American  

[kuhn-sur-vuh-tiz-uhm] / kənˈsɜr vəˌtɪz əm /

noun

1. the disposition to preserve or restore what is established and traditional and to limit change.

2. the principles and practices of political conservatives.

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conservatism ¹ British  

/ kənˈsɜːvəˌtɪzəm /

noun

1. opposition to change and innovation

2. a political philosophy advocating the preservation of the best of the established order in society and opposing radical change

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Conservatism ² British  

/ kənˈsɜːvəˌtɪzəm /

noun

1. the form of conservatism advocated by the Conservative Party

2. the policies, doctrines, or practices of the Conservative Party

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conservatism Cultural  

1. A general preference for the existing order of society, and an opposition to efforts to bring about sharp change. (Compare liberalism.)

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Other Word Forms

• anticonservatism noun
• hyperconservatism noun
• overconservatism noun

Etymology

Origin of conservatism

First recorded in 1825–35; conservat(ive) + -ism

Example Sentences

You would think that by the logic of such trauma I would have become a peace activist, but it became for me a predicate to conservatism.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Messaging around accelerating customer growth and raising ambitions will be well received, in light of management’s reputation for conservatism.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Business customers have been slow to adopt artificial-intelligence tools in a systematic way, but some of that conservatism is beginning to fade.

From Barron's

His strident nationalism over the border conflict with Cambodia, his staunch support for the army and his intense loyalty to King Vajiralongkorn all defined him clearly as the standard-bearer for Thai conservatism.

From BBC

Other analysts liked that American has already included the storm’s effects and some conservatism in its guidance for the current quarter.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• moderation
• orthodoxy