conventional

UK: /kənˈvɛnʃən^əl/ US: /kənˈvɛnʃənəl/ ,(kən ven′shə nl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

con•ven•tion•al /kənˈvɛnʃənəl/   adj. 

1. conforming to or following accepted standards:
   conventional behavior.
2. of or relating to accepted usage;
   traditional:
   [usually: before a noun] conventional symbols in physics for various quantities, like "c'' for the speed of light.
3. ordinary rather than original:
   conventional and boring writing.
4. not using nuclear weapons or energy;
   nonnuclear:
   [before a noun] conventional warfare.

con•ven•tion•al•ly, adv. See -ven-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

con•ven•tion•al  (kən ven′shə nl), adj. 

1. conforming or adhering to accepted standards, as of conduct or taste:
   conventional behavior.
2. pertaining to convention or general agreement;
   established by general consent or accepted usage;
   arbitrarily determined:
   conventional symbols.
3. ordinary rather than different or original:
   conventional phraseology.
4. not using, making, or involving nuclear weapons or energy;
   nonnuclear:
   conventional warfare.
5. Fine Art [Art.]
   • in accordance with an accepted manner, model, or tradition.
   • (of figurative art) represented in a generalized or simplified manner.
6. Law of or pertaining to a convention, agreement, or compact.
7. Law resting on consent, express or implied.
8. of or pertaining to a convention or assembly.

• Late Latin conventiōnālis. See convention, -al¹
• 1575–85

con•ven′tion•al•ist, n. 
con•ven′tion•al•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. See formal ¹.
• 2. usual, habitual, customary.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

conventional / kənˈvɛnʃən^əl/ adjective

1. following the accepted customs and proprieties, esp in a way that lacks originality
2. established by accepted usage or general agreement
3. of or relating to a convention or assembly
4. represented in a simplified or generalized way; conventionalized
5. (of weapons, warfare, etc) not nuclear

noun

1. another word for convention7

conˈventionally adverb