conservative

Etymology

From Middle French conservatif, from Latin cōnservō (“to preserve”). Equivalent to conserve + -ative.

noun

1. A person who favors maintenance of the status quo.
   1. (politics) One who opposes changes to the traditional institutions of their country.
   2. (US, politics) A person who favors decentralization of political power and disfavors interventionist foreign policy.
   3. (US, economics) A fiscal conservative.
   4. (US, social sciences) A social conservative.

adj

1. Cautious, moderate.
   The chef added a conservative amount of salt to the dish.
2. Tending to resist change or innovation.
   The curriculum committee at this university is extremely conservative.
3. Based on pessimistic assumptions.
   At a conservative estimate, growth may even be negative next year.
4. (US, economics, politics, social sciences) Supporting some combination of fiscal, political or social conservatism.
5. (Britain, politics) Relating to the Conservative Party.
   We have always been conscientiously attached to what is called the Tory, and which might with more propriety be called the Conservative, party. 1830, Quarterly Rev.
6. (physics, not comparable) Neither creating nor destroying a given quantity.
7. Having power to preserve in a safe or entire state, or from loss, waste, or injury; preservative.
8. (Judaism) Relating to Conservative Judaism.
9. (clothing) Conventional, traditional, and moderate in style and appearance; not extreme, excessive, faddish, or intense.
10. (medicine) Not including any operation or intervention (said of a treatment, see conservative treatment)
    Operative treatment should be reserved for those patients in whom conservative treatment has failed and who are motivated with regard to sports. 2000, G. Puddu et al., “Achilles Tendon Injuries”, in The Encyclopaedia of Sports Medicine, page 200