What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
conservative
Example
He has conservative views on social issues. [conservative: adjective]
Example
The company took a conservative approach to expanding into new markets. [conservative: noun]
traditionalist
Example
She is a traditionalist when it comes to holiday celebrations. [traditionalist: noun]
Example
The restaurant serves traditional dishes made from family recipes. [traditionalist: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Conservative is more commonly used than traditionalist in everyday language, particularly in political contexts. However, both words are relatively formal and may not be familiar to beginner ESL learners.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between conservative and traditionalist?
Both conservative and traditionalist are relatively formal words that may be more appropriate in academic or professional contexts. However, conservative is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of formality levels.
