26984 words

conservative

11 definitions • 15 examples
1
not usually liking or trusting change, especially sudden change:

Examples:

a conservative society/outlook
Older people tend to be more conservative and a bit suspicious of anything new.
2
If you are conservative in your appearance, you usually do not like fashionable or modern clothes or hairstyles:

Examples:

He's a very conservative dresser - he always looks like he's wearing his father's clothes!
3
A conservative guess or calculation is likely to be less than the real amount:

Examples:

conservative estimate If I said there were three million unemployed, that would be a conservative estimate.
4

Examples:

the Conservative Party
Conservative policies
a Conservative MP/government
Did you vote Conservative at the last election?
5
someone who belongs to or supports the Conservative Party of Great Britain (= a political party that traditionally supports business and opposes high taxes and government involvement in industry), or a similar party in another country:

Examples:

She's a staunch (= very loyal) Conservative.
7
If you are conservative in your appearance, you wear clothes in traditional colors and styles:

Examples:

He wore a conservative business suit for his interview.
9
(of guesses and calculations) likely to be less than the real amount:

Examples:

Even by conservative estimates, the company will lose $2,000,000 this year.
10
not involving or taking unnecessary risks:

Examples:

The firm has always had a conservative approach to investment.
11
lower than the real figure or amount seems likely to be:

Examples:

a conservative estimate/figure

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