kun-VEN-shuh-nul
Conventional means conforming to accepted standards, customs, or practices. It describes things that follow traditional or widely accepted ways of doing things, often contrasted with innovative, unconventional, or radical approaches. In essence, conventional choices are safe, standard, and predictable.
17
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
💡 Pro Tip:
CONVENTIONAL is a 12-letter word containing the valuable V (4 points). Its length makes it challenging to play, but the common suffixes -TION and -AL provide hooking opportunities. Look for ways to build it from existing words on the board.
Conventional refers to something that adheres to accepted standards, customs, or established practices within a society or field. It represents the mainstream approach that has been validated through common usage and general acceptance. When something is described as conventional, it follows traditional patterns and avoids deviation from established norms.
In various contexts, conventional takes on nuanced meanings. In social settings, conventional behavior aligns with societal expectations and cultural norms. In technology, conventional methods are tried-and-tested approaches that prioritize reliability over innovation. In warfare, conventional weapons exclude nuclear, biological, and chemical arms.
The term often carries a neutral to slightly negative connotation in creative fields, where being conventional might suggest a lack of originality or innovation. However, in fields like medicine or engineering, conventional approaches are often preferred for their proven safety and effectiveness.
In word games, CONVENTIONAL is particularly valuable due to its length (12 letters) and the presence of common word-building elements. The suffix -AL and the root CONVENTION make it easier to construct from existing board positions. Its mix of common and moderate-value letters provides strategic flexibility.
The word "conventional" traces its roots to the Latin "conventionalis," derived from "conventio" meaning "meeting, agreement, or covenant." This Latin term comes from "convenire," which combines "con-" (together) + "venire" (to come), literally meaning "to come together."
The evolution of the word follows this timeline:
The shift from meaning "agreed upon" to "customary" reflects how agreements and meetings establish the norms that become traditions. What groups "come together" to decide eventually becomes the conventional way of doing things.
Words with similar meaning
Traditional
Following long-established customs
Orthodox
Conforming to established doctrine
Customary
According to usual practice
Standard
Normal or typical
Mainstream
Belonging to the majority
Established
Accepted through long use
Words with opposite meaning
Unconventional
Not conforming to accepted standards
Innovative
Featuring new methods or ideas
Radical
Departing from tradition
Unorthodox
Contrary to accepted beliefs
Alternative
Different from the usual
Avant-garde
New and experimental
Adverb Form
conventionally
She dressed conventionally for the interview.
Noun Form
convention / conventionality
The convention of shaking hands when meeting.
Related Terms
Generally accepted beliefs or opinions
Non-nuclear military armaments
Mainstream medical practices
Standard way of doing something
Total base points: 17 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 5 | Consonants: 7
Contains all 5 vowels: A, E, I, O, U
Prefix
CON- (together, with)
Root
VENT (come)
Suffixes
-ION (action/result) + -AL (relating to)
Building Blocks
If you can't play CONVENTIONAL, consider these subwords:
"The company decided to move away from conventional marketing strategies and embrace social media influencers."
"His conventional approach to problem-solving, while reliable, sometimes missed innovative solutions."
"The startup challenged conventional business models by offering everything as a subscription service."
Art & Design: "The artist's work deliberately subverted conventional notions of beauty."
Education: "Many students thrive outside conventional classroom settings."
Lifestyle: "They chose a conventional suburban life over their previous nomadic existence."
"Conventional" often contrasts with "disruptive" in tech discourse. Conventional technologies are established and reliable, while startups seek to replace them with innovative alternatives. The tension between conventional and cutting-edge drives much of Silicon Valley's narrative.
Political movements often define themselves as either defending conventional values or challenging conventional wisdom. The term "conventional politician" can be either reassuring (experienced, predictable) or pejorative (out of touch, unimaginative).
Artists and creators constantly navigate between conventional forms that audiences understand and unconventional approaches that push boundaries. "Conventional" in creative fields often implies commercial viability but potential artistic compromise.
What's considered conventional shifts dramatically between generations. Baby Boomers' conventional career path (one company, gold watch) seems foreign to Millennials, whose conventional approach includes job-hopping and gig economy participation.
Conventional vs. Traditional
Conventional is current standard practice; traditional has historical roots
Conventional vs. Conservative
Conventional means standard; conservative means resistant to change
Conventional vs. Convenient
Often confused in spelling and meaning
Convention vs. Conventional
Noun (gathering/custom) vs. adjective (conforming)
TRADITIONAL
Following long-established customs
UNCONVENTIONAL
Not conforming to accepted rules
ORTHODOX
Conforming to established doctrine
MAINSTREAM
Belonging to the majority
CONSERVATIVE
Favoring traditional values
INNOVATIVE
Featuring new methods (antonym)
Other valuable long words ending in -AL in Scrabble
Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like CONVENTIONAL