conventional
/kənˈvɛnʃənl/
Group 5Difficulty 1/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- Based on or in accordance with what is generally done or believed; not innovative GRE
Example in Context
The conventional wisdom held that reform was impossible, but a new generation of leaders proved that assumption wrong.
Synonyms
normaltraditionalstandard
Etymology
Coming together based on common practices; not innovative.
- con- (Latin) — with, together
- ventio (Latin) — to come
Memory Aid
🏢Sounds like “conven-shun-al”
At the CONVEN-SHUN, everyone wore the SAME boring suit — so CONVENTIONAL!
Visual Association
📏A row of identical houses on a street, all looking the same and adhering to the same style.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “conventional” mean on the GRE?
conventional (adjective) means “Based on or in accordance with what is generally done or believed; not innovative”. The conventional wisdom held that reform was impossible, but a new generation of leaders proved that assumption wrong.
How to remember “conventional” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “conventional” sounds like “conven-shun-al”. At the CONVEN-SHUN, everyone wore the SAME boring suit — so CONVENTIONAL!
What are synonyms for “conventional”?
Common synonyms: normal, traditional, standard.