conservative — [kən sʉr′və tiv] adj. [OFr conservatif < LL conservativus] 1. conserving or tending to conserve; preservative 2. tending to preserve established traditions or institutions and to resist or oppose any changes in these [conservative politics,… … English World dictionary
conservative — con‧ser‧va‧tive [kənˈsɜːvətɪv ǁ ɜːr ] adjective 1. careful to avoid taking risks: • He would be better taking a conservative approach to his new mortgage and opting for a fixed rate. 2. careful not to state a value or amount to be bigger or… … Financial and business terms
conservative — ► ADJECTIVE 1) averse to change and holding traditional values. 2) (in a political context) favouring free enterprise, private ownership, and socially conservative ideas. 3) (Conservative) relating to a Conservative Party. 4) (of an estimate)… … English terms dictionary
conservative — late 14c., conservatyf, from M.Fr. conservatif, from L.L. conservativus, from L. conservatus, pp. of conservare (see CONSERVE (Cf. conserve)). As a modern political tradition, conservatism traces to Edmund Burke s opposition to the French… … Etymology dictionary
Conservative — Con*serv a*tive, a. [Cf. F. conservatif.] 1. Having power to preserve in a safe of entire state, or from loss, waste, or injury; preservative. [1913 Webster] 2. Tending or disposed to maintain existing institutions; opposed to change or… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Conservative — Con*serv a*tive, n. 1. One who, or that which, preserves from ruin, injury, innovation, or radical change; a preserver; a conserver. [1913 Webster] The Holy Spirit is the great conservative of the new life. Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster] 2. One who… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
conservative — in the meaning ‘moderate, cautious, low’, as in a conservative estimate, is one of Fowler s lost causes. He regarded it as a ridiculous ‘slipshod extension’ and rejected it outright. But it is now well established in the language and is… … Modern English usage
conservative — [adj] cautious, moderate, tending to preserve the status quo bourgeois, constant, controlled, conventional, die hard, fearful, firm, fogyish*, fuddy duddy*, guarded, hard hat*, hidebound, holding to, illiberal, in a rut*, inflexible, middle of… … New thesaurus
conservative — index frugal, guarded, illiberal, orthodox, protective, uncompromising Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
Conservative — The Conservative – Liberal Democrat Coalition Agreement (also called The Coalition: Our Programme For Government) was a policy document drawn up following the 2010 general election in the United Kingdom. It formed the terms of reference governing … Wikipedia
conservative — [[t]kənsɜ͟ː(r)vətɪv[/t]] ♦♦ conservatives (The spelling Conservative is also used for meaning 1.) 1) ADJ A Conservative politician or voter is a member of or votes for the Conservative Party in Britain. Most Conservative MPs appear happy with the … English dictionary
