conventional
gb/kənvˈɛnʃənəl/ us/kənvˈɛnʃənəl/
B1
English
~ 2300
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Based on usual customs
Doing things in the normal or usual way that most people accept.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is conventional
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'conventional' with 'convenient' because they look similar, but 'conventional' means usual or traditional, not easy or comfortable.
Synonyms
traditional (Emphasizes long-established customs or beliefs, often with cultural or historical significance.)
|
usual (More general and less formal; refers to what happens most of the time.)
Antonyms
unconventional (Describes something different from what is usual or accepted.)
|
radical (Implies a complete departure from traditional ideas or practices.)
Collocations
conventional methods
|conventional wisdom
|conventional approach
|conventional thinking
|conventional lifestyle
Themes
culture
|society
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|relationships
Examples
- She prefers a conventional style of dress for work.
- The building was designed in a conventional way, with brick walls and a pitched roof.
- He has very conventional views about marriage.
- We decided to take a more conventional approach to solving the problem.
- The ceremony followed a conventional format.
Learner examples
- He lives in a conventional house.
- She wears conventional clothes to school.
- This is the conventional way to cook rice.
- His ideas are very conventional.
- They chose a conventional plan.
adjective
technical
B2
property
2
Non-nuclear (weapons/forces)
About weapons or armies that do not use nuclear bombs or dangerous chemicals.
Usage pattern:
conventional [weapons/forces/arms]
Common mistake:
Learners might confuse 'conventional' here with 'traditional' in a cultural sense, but in military contexts it specifically means non-nuclear.
Synonyms
standard (In military context, refers to typical non-nuclear arms.)
Antonyms
nuclear (Refers to weapons powered by nuclear reactions.)
Collocations
conventional weapons
|conventional forces
|conventional warfare
Themes
military
|technology
|politics
|law
Examples
- The treaty calls for a reduction in conventional weapons.
- Conventional forces were deployed to the border.
- The army relies on both nuclear and conventional capabilities.
Learner examples
- The country has many conventional weapons.
- They sent conventional forces to the area.
- Conventional war is different from nuclear war.
adjective
B2
property
3
Standard medical/scientific practice
About medical care or science that most doctors and scientists agree on and use.
Usage pattern:
conventional [medicine/treatment/method]
Synonyms
mainstream (Widely accepted and practiced in the general professional community.)
Antonyms
alternative (Refers to approaches outside mainstream scientific or medical practice.)
Collocations
conventional medicine
|conventional treatment
|conventional therapy
Themes
health
|science
Examples
- He chose conventional medicine over herbal remedies.
- Conventional treatments can be effective for many conditions.
- The study compared conventional therapy with alternative methods.
Learner examples
- She is taking conventional medicine for her illness.
- Conventional treatment helped him get better.
- Doctors often use conventional methods first.
Grammar
Dictionary form
conventional
IPA
GB/kənvˈɛnʃənəl/
US/kənvˈɛnʃənəl/
Syllables & stress
con - ven - tion - al (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ven)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: conventional
Word family
Core family
convention
noun B1
conventionally
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
unconventional
adjective B2
unconventionally
adverb
Expressions
conventional warfare
1/kənvˈɛnʃənəl wˈɔɹfˌɛɹ/
fixed phrase
technical
Non-nuclear military conflict
War that uses normal weapons like guns and bombs, not nuclear weapons.
Examples
- The country has experience in both guerrilla and conventional warfare.
- Conventional warfare causes different kinds of damage than nuclear war.
conventional wisdom
1/kənvˈɛnʃənəl wˈɪzdəm/
fixed phrase
Widely accepted belief
The idea that most people believe is true, even if it may not be.
Examples
- Conventional wisdom says you should buy a home instead of renting.
- Conventional wisdom says you should change jobs every few years to advance your career.
- It goes against conventional wisdom to invest during a recession.
- He went against conventional wisdom by dropping out of college to start a business.