Conventional — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /kən-ˈven(t)-sh(ə-)nəl/ con·ven·tion·al

Meaning & Definition of Conventional

Conventional (adjective)

  1. formed by agreement or compact
  2. according with, sanctioned by, or based on convention
  3. lacking originality or individuality, trite

Conventional (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. accepted, used, or practiced by most people

    "conventional wisdom holds that an incumbent president has an overwhelming advantage over his opponent"

    similar: current, customary, going, popular, prevailing, prevalent, standard, stock, usual
    related: average, common, everyday, normal, ordinary, regular, routine, epidemic, ubiquitous, universal, widespread, accustomed, wonted, fashionable, in, modish, stylish
    opposite: nonstandard, unconventional, unpopular, unusual
    near: abnormal, exceptional, extraordinary, uncommon

  2. based on customs usually handed down from a previous generation

    "tried to break from the conventional attitudes regarding the proper roles for men and women"

    similar: classical, customary, prescriptive, traditional
    related: authentic, established, fixed, historical, common, habitual, orthodox, usual, ancestral, historic, old-time, old-world, aged, age-old, ancient, antediluvian, hoary, old, venerable, ageless, dateless, immemorial, timeless
    opposite: nontraditional, unconventional, uncustomary, untraditional
    near: contemporary, current, modern, modernized, new, new age, present-day, updated, up-to-date, futuristic, high-tech, hot, latest, mod, modernistic, newfangled, new-fashioned, red-hot, space-age, state-of-the-art, supermodern, ultramodern, nonconformist, nonorthodox, original, progressive, revolutionary, unorthodox, unprecedented, unusual

  3. following or agreeing with established form, custom, or rules

    "conventional courtesy demands that the bridal couple send written thank-you notes for their gifts"

    similar: ceremonial, ceremonious, formal, orthodox, regular, routine
    related: authorized, certified, official, sanctioned, accepted, correct, decorous, genteel, nice, polite, proper, respectable, seemly, formalistic, ritual, ritualistic, methodical, orderly, systematic
    opposite: casual, freewheeling, informal, irregular, unceremonious, unconventional, unorthodox
    near: unauthorized, unofficial, graceless, improper, inappropriate, incorrect, indecorous, inept, infelicitous, unapt, unbecoming, unfit, unhappy, unseemly, unsuitable

Related Entry: Conventional wisdom (noun)

Conventional wisdom is a different word from Conventional. The synonyms below are for conventional wisdom, not for conventional.

  1. opinions or beliefs that are held or accepted by most people

    "Conventional wisdom in Hollywood says that a movie can't succeed unless it stars a famous actor or actress."

    similar: party line, routine, banality, bromide, chestnut, cliché, commonplace, groaner, homily, platitude, shibboleth, trope, truism, inanity, generality, generalization, simplification, adage, proverb, saw, saying, old wives' tale, stereotype
    opposite: profundity

Related Entry: Conventional wisdoms (noun)

Conventional wisdoms is a different word from Conventional. The synonyms below are for conventional wisdoms, not for conventional.

  1. opinions or beliefs that are held or accepted by most people

    "Conventional wisdom in Hollywood says that a movie can't succeed unless it stars a famous actor or actress."

    similar: party lines, routines, banalities, bromides, chestnuts, clichés, commonplaces, groaners, homilies, platitudes, shibboleths, tropes, truisms, inanities, generalities, generalizations, simplifications, adages, proverbs, saws, sayings, old wives' tales, stereotypes
    opposite: profundities

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Conventional

The most common words with a similar meaning to Conventional:

current, customary, going, popular, prevailing, prevalent, standard, stock, usual, classical, prescriptive, traditional, ceremonial, ceremonious, formal, orthodox, regular, routine

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Conventional

Words with the opposite meaning of Conventional:

nonstandard, unconventional, unpopular, unusual, nontraditional, uncustomary, untraditional, casual, freewheeling, informal, irregular, unceremonious, unorthodox

Related Words for Conventional

average, common, everyday, normal, ordinary, epidemic, ubiquitous, universal, widespread, accustomed, wonted, fashionable, in, modish, stylish, authentic, established, fixed, historical, habitual, ancestral, historic, old-time, old-world, aged, age-old, ancient, antediluvian, hoary, old

Near Antonyms of Conventional

abnormal, exceptional, extraordinary, uncommon, contemporary, current, modern, modernized, new, new age, present-day, updated, up-to-date, futuristic, high-tech, hot, latest, mod, modernistic, newfangled, new-fashioned, red-hot, space-age, state-of-the-art, supermodern, ultramodern, nonconformist, nonorthodox, original, progressive

Word Forms of Conventional

Derived words: conventionalism (noun), conventionalist (noun or adjective), conventionalization (noun), conventionalize (transitive verb), conventionally (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Conventional

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Conventional

Words & Phrases Containing Conventional

conventional wisdom, conventional medicine, anti-conventional

Frequently Asked Questions about Conventional

What does "Conventional" mean?

"Conventional" means formed by agreement or compact. As an adjective, it is defined as: formed by agreement or compact. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Conventional"?

Other words for "Conventional" include current, customary, going, popular, prevailing, prevalent, standard and stock. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Conventional" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Conventional"?

There are 72 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Conventional". Common alternatives include current, customary, going, popular, prevailing, prevalent, standard, stock, usual and classical.

What is the opposite of "Conventional"?

Antonyms of "Conventional" include nonstandard, unconventional, unpopular, unusual, nontraditional, uncustomary, untraditional and casual. Near antonyms include abnormal, exceptional, extraordinary and uncommon.

How do you use "Conventional" in a sentence?

Examples of "Conventional" in a sentence: "conventional wisdom holds that an incumbent president has an overwhelming advantage over his opponent"; "tried to break from the conventional attitudes regarding the proper roles for men and women"; "conventional courtesy demands that the bridal couple send written thank-you notes for their gifts".

Is "Conventional" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Conventional" is an adjective.

Is "Conventional" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Conventional" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Conventional"?

"Conventional" is pronounced /kən-ˈven(t)-sh(ə-)nəl/ and divided into syllables as con·ven·tion·al.