conservativism
UK[kənˈsɜːvətɪvɪzəm]US[kənˈsɜːrvətɪvɪzəm]
n
a political and social philosophy that promotes retaining traditional social institutions and values, and is cautious about change or innovation.
n
the tendency to resist change and prefer the existing order in other areas, such as culture or economics.
Morpheme Breakdown
conservat
ive
ism
conservat
to keep
ive
adjective suffix
ism
doctrine or system
Etymology
the term conservativism is built upon the core latin verb 'conservare', meaning 'to keep safe, preserve'. the adjective-forming suffix '-ive' was added to create 'conservative', describing a disposition inclined to preservation. finally, the abstract noun-forming suffix '-ism', of greek origin via latin, was appended to denote the formalized philosophy or doctrine characterized by this inclination. thus, the word's literal construction, 'preservation-ism', logically encapsulates its modern meaning as an ideology favoring the maintenance of established traditions and institutions, viewing them as a guarded inheritance to be conserved.
Analysis
Structure: conservat (to keep) + ive (adjective suffix) + ism (doctrine or system)
conservat is from latin 'conservare', meaning 'to keep, preserve, guard'. ive is a latin-derived suffix forming adjectives meaning 'of the nature of'. ism is a greek-derived suffix forming nouns denoting a system, principle, or ideological movement.
Examples
his conservativism was evident in his strong support for traditional family structures.
economic conservativism often emphasizes fiscal responsibility and free-market principles.
the party's platform shifted toward a more populist form of conservativism.