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conformity

conformity

24 4.8
A state of behaving and thinking like most people or like rules say
  • noun
  • /kənˈfɔrmɪti/
translation icon : conformidad
  • Many people feel pressured to show conformity to societal norms, even if they disagree with them.
  • obedience and conformity
  • loyalty and conformity
  • conformity to the rules

Like they need conformity or they don't work.

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Examples

  • And it fosters this conformity, this homogeneity, this fear of saying anything off key.

  • The ways that children are dressed greatly promote conformity to gender-stereotyped behavior.

    Academic text (2015)
  • And the first year was OK because I kind of bought into the conformity that they had you.

  • I think it's important that people just go and lose the boundaries, lose the conformity and just go for it.

  • But blue is very much about conformity and religion and tradition and things like that.

  • Freedom means acting in conformity with self-imposed law.

  • And I think that translating that to today, conformity is a very important issue for today.

  • All it takes is one person to break the conformity, and you're willing to break that, too.

  • We have sought to shrug off individuality, replacing it with conformity.

  • Still others saw a critique of conformity, a growing obsession among intellectuals of the time.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

compliance
vsconformity
171 5.0

Obeying rules or orders from people in charge

focuses more on matching social norms and majority behaviour rather than mere obedience
accordance
vsconformity
84 3.9

Following a rule, instruction, or request

stresses public or behavioural matching to commonly accepted standards rather than abstract harmony
adherence
vsconformity
29 6.3

Following rules or beliefs closely

is less about firm support and more about matching external standards and norms
propriety
vsconformity
  • Formal
27 7.4

Behavior that most people think is correct in a situation

is broader, including general agreement and matching beyond moral appropriateness
observance
vsconformity
11 4.7

Following a law or custom

is broader, describing a general state of agreeing with accepted standards
conformance
vsconformity
  • Specialized
4 7.0

A state of following a rule or standard

is broader, covering behavior, thinking, and social agreement not just form
conformism
vsconformity
1 7.7

Following usual rules and beliefs without asking questions

can be neutral and does not require uncritical or unquestioning behaviour
conventionality
vsconformity
1 6.9

Following accepted customs and usual ways of doing things

covers broader matching to standards beyond just customary behaviour
compliancy
vsconformity
7.5

A habit of doing what other people want even if you disagree

emphasizes matching accepted standards and majority behaviour rather than just yielding
abidance
vsconformity
  • Formal
9.5

Following rules or laws

also includes the mental and social agreement with those standards, not only actions
abidingness
vsconformity
8.9

The quality of always following rules set by others

covers both occasional matching and general agreement rather than only long consistency
conventionalism
vsconformity
  • Formal
8.1

A preference for usual ways of thinking or behaving, for example in art

is the general state of matching standards, not specifically creating orthodoxy
clear alignment
vsconformity
3.9

A clear agreement with an idea, policy, or group

can be less visible and includes private thinking and habitual matching not only obvious cases

Antonyms

60 4.2

When people refuse to obey authority or rules

Not following accepted social and religious rules

How Conforming

orthodoxy
29 7.4
conformity
24 4.8
independence
608 3.0

Surface Forms

conformity singular
conformities plural

Morphology

conformity = conform (transparent) = conform + ity

Knowing the verb 'conform' and the noun-forming suffix '-ity' makes the meaning 'the state or act of conforming' directly inferable.

Etymology

Conformity comes from the Latin parts con- 'together' and form 'shape'. So it is like shaping yourself to fit the group, which explains why the word means behaving or thinking the same as others.