conventional

What does “conventional” mean?

adjective.based on or in accordance with what is generally done or believed.

SAT Usage

This term often appears in passages discussing social norms, traditions, or cultural practices. It emphasizes adherence to established standards or beliefs, suggesting a lack of innovation or deviation, which can contrast with ideas of progress or rebellion found in similar discussions.

Common Confusions

Conventional implies adherence to established norms or traditions, while innovative usually suggests a focus on new ideas or creative approaches that challenge the status quo.

Example Sentences

• They wear conventional clothes, eat conventional food, and keep conventional hours.

Word Parts: How to Remember “conventional”

Break “conventional” into its parts: co- (together, with) + -ven- (come). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: co- together, with (Latin)
• Root: -ven- come (Latin)