# Tory

/ˈtɔɹi/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tory
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. UK Conservative member

noun · CEFR B2 · British English · Informal

a member or supporter of the Conservative Party in the UK.

For teachers: 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.

- The local Tory candidate visited our street to talk about the new school.
- Political analysts suggest that the Tory lead in the polls is narrowing as the general election approaches.

### 2. Canadian Conservative member

noun · CEFR B2 · American English · Informal

a member or supporter of the Conservative Party of Canada.

For teachers: a member or supporter of the Conservative Party of Canada or its provincial affiliates.

- He has been a loyal Tory since he first voted in Ontario.
- The provincial Tories are expected to announce a new fiscal policy during the upcoming legislative session.

### 3. American Revolution Loyalist

noun · CEFR C1 · American English · Technical

a person who supported the British king during the American Revolution.

For teachers: a colonist in North America who remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolutionary War.

- After the war ended, many Tories fled from the new United States to Canada.
- Historical records indicate that families were often divided, with some members identifying as Patriots while others remained staunch Tories.

### 4. relating to the Conservative Party

adjective · CEFR B2 · British English · Informal

relating to the Conservative Party or its ideas.

For teachers: of or relating to the Conservative Party in the UK or Canada. Often used attributively before a noun.

- The newspaper criticized the latest Tory policies on healthcare.
- The Tory government faced significant backlash after proposing changes to the national pension scheme.

## Examples

- The local Tory candidate is visiting our street today.
- The newspaper predicted a landslide victory for the Tory party in the upcoming general election.
- Political analysts often distinguish between the traditional high Tory values of the rural gentry and the more modern, market-driven ideologies of the urban wing.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.