conservative
♦♦ con|serva|tive /kəns'ɜːrvətɪv/ (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 government's reassurances.
...disenchanted Conservative voters.
= Tory
[N-COUNT]
Conservative is also a noun.
In 1951 the Conservatives were returned to power.
2 [ADJ]
Someone who is conservative has right-wing views.
...counties whose citizens invariably support the most conservative candidate in any election.
= right-wing
[N-COUNT]
Conservative is also a noun.
The new judge is 50-year-old David Suitor who's regarded as a conservative.
3 [ADJ]
Someone who is conservative or has conservative ideas is unwilling to accept changes and new ideas.
It is essentially a narrow and conservative approach to child care.
4 [ADJ]
If someone dresses in a conservative way, their clothes are conventional in style.
The girl was well dressed, as usual, though in a more conservative style.
● conservatively [ADV] ADV with v
She was always very conservatively dressed when we went out.
5 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A conservative estimate or guess is one in which you are cautious and estimate or guess a low amount which is probably less that the real amount.
A conservative estimate of the bill, so far, is about £22,000...
This guess is probably on the conservative side.
● conservatively [ADV] ADV with v
The bequest is conservatively estimated at £30 million.
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 government's reassurances.
...disenchanted Conservative voters.
= Tory
[N-COUNT]
Conservative is also a noun.
In 1951 the Conservatives were returned to power.
2 [ADJ]
Someone who is conservative has right-wing views.
...counties whose citizens invariably support the most conservative candidate in any election.
= right-wing
[N-COUNT]
Conservative is also a noun.
The new judge is 50-year-old David Suitor who's regarded as a conservative.
3 [ADJ]
Someone who is conservative or has conservative ideas is unwilling to accept changes and new ideas.
It is essentially a narrow and conservative approach to child care.
4 [ADJ]
If someone dresses in a conservative way, their clothes are conventional in style.
The girl was well dressed, as usual, though in a more conservative style.
● conservatively [ADV] ADV with v
She was always very conservatively dressed when we went out.
5 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A conservative estimate or guess is one in which you are cautious and estimate or guess a low amount which is probably less that the real amount.
A conservative estimate of the bill, so far, is about £22,000...
This guess is probably on the conservative side.
● conservatively [ADV] ADV with v
The bequest is conservatively estimated at £30 million.