conformity
noun
con·for·mi·ty
kən-ˈfȯr-mə-tē 
plural conformities
1
: correspondence in form, manner, or character : agreement
behaved in conformity with her beliefs
2
: an act or instance of conforming
her conformity with the latest fashions
3
: action in accordance with some specified standard or authority
conformity to social custom
conformity with the federal law and state insurance codes
Synonyms
Examples of conformity in a Sentence
The corporate culture demands a certain conformity of appearance.
the simple lifestyle of the Amish is in conformity with their ascetic religious beliefs
Recent Examples on the Web
Bach’s music emerges as an expression of resistance to artistic conformity, to the pursuit of facile popularity—a kind of resistance which the filmmakers themselves display in their severe sense of form.
—
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2024
The court hired two academic consultants to analyze the proposals and issue a report evaluating the plans for their conformity to standard districting requirements, including compactness and equal population distribution.
—Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 16 Feb. 2024
The school, which encourages conformity, says other students obey the rules.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 25 Jan. 2024
Most ads didn’t seek to remind people of a dark world urging conformity.
—Chris Isidore, CNN, 12 Feb. 2024
Established in 1924, the Soviet Republic of Volga Germans was intended to bring Communist conformity to an Eastern European region that had maintained its own culture and language since the first German colonists arrived in the mid-17th century.
—Alida Becker, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2024
There, worlds and feelings collide, conformity battles individualism, and shy teenager Enn falls in love with the rebellious alien, Zan (Elle Fanning).
—EW.com, 13 Nov. 2023
The true horror of Kaufman's Invasion, though, is that acquiescence gives way to McCarthyism; in conformity, old friends become new enemies.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 9 Nov. 2023
My manager's aversion to creativity left our team in a stifled state of conformity.
—Morgan Massie, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2024
The court hired two academic consultants to analyze the proposals and issue a report evaluating the plans for their conformity to standard districting requirements, including compactness and equal population distribution.
—Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 16 Feb. 2024
The school, which encourages conformity, says other students obey the rules.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 25 Jan. 2024
Most ads didn’t seek to remind people of a dark world urging conformity.
—Chris Isidore, CNN, 12 Feb. 2024
Established in 1924, the Soviet Republic of Volga Germans was intended to bring Communist conformity to an Eastern European region that had maintained its own culture and language since the first German colonists arrived in the mid-17th century.
—Alida Becker, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2024
There, worlds and feelings collide, conformity battles individualism, and shy teenager Enn falls in love with the rebellious alien, Zan (Elle Fanning).
—EW.com, 13 Nov. 2023
The true horror of Kaufman's Invasion, though, is that acquiescence gives way to McCarthyism; in conformity, old friends become new enemies.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 9 Nov. 2023
My manager's aversion to creativity left our team in a stifled state of conformity.
—Morgan Massie, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'conformity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of conformity was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near conformity
Cite this Entry
“Conformity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conformity. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
conformity
noun
con·for·mi·ty
kən-ˈfȯr-mət-ē
plural conformities
1
: agreement in form, manner, or character
behaved in conformity with their beliefs
2
: action in accordance with a standard or authority : obedience
conformity to social custom
More from Merriam-Webster on conformity
Nglish: Translation of conformity for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of conformity for Arabic Speakers
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