tory
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a member or supporter of the Conservative Party in the UK.
n.a member or supporter of the British Conservative Party. While widely used in journalism, it can carry a slightly critical or informal tone depending on the speaker.
Simple“The local Tory candidate visited our street to talk about the new school.”
In context“Political analysts suggest that the Tory lead in the polls is narrowing as the general election approaches.”
SynonymsAntonymslabouritewhig - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a member or supporter of the Conservative Party of Canada.
n.a member or supporter of the Conservative Party of Canada or its provincial affiliates.
Simple“He has been a loyal Tory since he first voted in Ontario.”
In context“The provincial Tories are expected to announce a new fiscal policy during the upcoming legislative session.”
SynonymsAntonymsliberalnew democrat - 03 C1 Advanced
n.a person who supported the British king during the American Revolution.
n.a colonist in North America who remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolutionary War.
Simple“After the war ended, many Tories fled from the new United States to Canada.”
In context“Historical records indicate that families were often divided, with some members identifying as Patriots while others remained staunch Tories.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.relating to the Conservative Party or its ideas.
adj.of or relating to the Conservative Party in the UK or Canada. Often used attributively before a noun.
Simple“The newspaper criticized the latest Tory policies on healthcare.”
In context“The Tory government faced significant backlash after proposing changes to the national pension scheme.”
Synonyms
From Irish tóraí (“pursuer”), from tóir (“pursuit”). The first recorded use in English is from a 1646 letter by James Butler, Earl of Ormond, to a Colonel O'Brien, describing bandits and thieves on main roadways.
Short for Victoria when used as a female name, and for Victor or Salvatore when used as a male name.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.