compassionate conservatism

noun

A political philosophy that stresses using traditionally conservative techniques and concepts in order to improve the general welfare of society.

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Meanings

nouncompassionate conservatism (uncountable)
  1. uncountableA political philosophy that stresses using traditionally conservative techniques and concepts in order to improve the general welfare of society.

    1984 November 8, James Robert Jones (interviewee), New York Times I think we should adopt the slogan of compassionate conservatism.... We can be fiscally conservative without losing our commitment to the needy and we must redirect our policy in that direction.

    2 more examples

    I do not challenge the conservatism of this Administration. I do challenge its failure to exhibit a compassionate conservatism that adapts itself to the realities of a society ridden by class and race distinction.

    1981 July 23, Vernon Jordan, New York Times, page 17

    I believe in a visionary and compassionate conservatism

    1984 September 20, Ray Shamie, Christian Science Monitor, page 19
Cite this entry
APA

compassionate conservatism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/compassionate%20conservatism

MLA

“compassionate conservatism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/compassionate%20conservatism. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “compassionate conservatism,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/compassionate%20conservatism.

Source: compassionate conservatism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.