Conservatism

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /kənˈsɜːvətɪzəm/

Definitions

1. A political and social philosophy favoring traditional institutions, gradual change, and preservation of established customs over rapid reform
2. A political doctrine emphasizing the importance of traditional values and institutions while advocating for careful evolution in societal norms and governance practices
3. A political ideology that prioritizes maintaining established traditions and values while supporting a cautious approach to change in society and government

Etymology: Conservatism is a word built in two steps. English already had "conservative," which came into the language from Old French and Medieval Latin meaning "preserving" or "tending to keep things as they are." Adding "-ism," a suffix that turns a quality into a doctrine or attitude, produced a noun for the whole outlook behind that quality. The source leaves room for a slightly different route: it may have come from "conservate," an older English form, rather than directly from "conservative," which is one reason the exact path is debated. Either way, the root is Latin "conservare," meaning "to keep together, preserve, guard, or observe." The same root gives us "conserve," "conservation," and "conservatory." Notice how the sense of keeping safe carried over into keeping customs and institutions unchanged, which is the core of the political and social meaning the word now has.

Synonyms: traditionalism, conventionalism

Antonyms: liberalism, progressivism