arch-con
|arch/con|
🇺🇸
/ˈɑrtʃˌkɑn/
🇬🇧
/ˈɑːtʃˌkɒn/
extremely/leading conservative
Etymology
'arch-con' originates from Greek and English: the prefix 'arch-' comes from Greek 'arkhos' meaning 'chief' or 'principal', combined with English 'con', a clipped form of 'conservative' (ultimately from Latin 'conservare').
'arch-con' developed as a clipped, colloquial form of the longer compound 'arch-conservative' in 20th-century political discourse; 'arch-conservative' itself is formed from 'arch-' + 'conservative.'
Initially it signified a 'principal' or leading conservative (by analogy with 'arch-' meaning 'chief'), and over time it has come to mean an especially extreme or uncompromising conservative in informal usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an arch-conservative; a person who is extremely or uncompromisingly conservative, often a prominent or leading figure of conservative views.
He's known as an arch-con in the party who opposes any moderate reforms.
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Adjective 1
very conservative in outlook or policy; used attributively to describe policies, positions, or people.
The arch-con stance on the bill made compromise impossible.
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Last updated: 2026/01/14 03:09