conservative

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. relating to a political belief that supports lower taxes, less government power, and traditional social rules.

adj. relating to a political philosophy that promotes individual liberty, free markets, and the preservation of social stability.

“He joined the conservative party because he wanted the government to spend less money.”

“The candidate's conservative platform resonated with rural voters who felt alienated by the urban elite's progressive social policies.”

C1 · Advanced Academic

adj. a guess or calculation that is purposely low to avoid being wrong or taking risks.

adj. referring to an estimate or assumption that is deliberately moderate or low to ensure safety or reliability.

“A conservative estimate of the repair costs would be around five hundred dollars.”

“Even by conservative estimates, the project is expected to take at least three years to reach the production phase.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. plain and professional in style; not showing off or following new fashions.

adj. avoiding showiness or extremes in style; adhering to established standards of professional or formal dress.

“She wore a conservative dark suit for her job interview at the bank.”

“The architect designed a conservative facade that blended seamlessly with the historic buildings surrounding the new plaza.”

C1 · Advanced Medicine Technical

adj. medical care that avoids surgery or strong drugs if possible.

adj. referring to medical management that avoids invasive procedures or radical interventions in favour of monitoring or physical therapy.

“The doctor recommended conservative treatment like rest and ice before considering surgery.”

“The surgeon opted for a conservative course of action, monitoring the patient's progress before committing to an invasive spinal procedure.”

C2 · Proficiency Science Academic · Technical

adj. a form of a language that has not changed much from how it was spoken in the past.

adj. describing a language variety or feature that retains older forms and has undergone fewer phonological or morphological changes than related varieties.

“Icelandic is a very conservative language that still looks like Old Norse.”

“The dialect spoken in the isolated mountain village is remarkably conservative, preserving vowel sounds that have disappeared elsewhere.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. someone who holds traditional values or supports a conservative political party.

n. an individual who adheres to traditional values or supports right-of-center political ideologies.

“My uncle is a staunch conservative who rarely agrees with new social laws.”

“The debate featured a prominent conservative who argued that rapid cultural shifts were damaging the social fabric of the nation.”