What does conformity mean?
Conformity is the act of aligning one's behaviour, beliefs, or appearance with the norms, rules, or expectations of a group or society. It appears most often in discussions of social behaviour, where it can describe anything from polite adherence to etiquette to the deeper psychological tendency to go along with the crowd. A second, more formal sense denotes correspondence with an external standard — a design may be built 'in conformity with' safety regulations, for example. Connotations vary with context: psychologists treat conformity as a natural and often necessary force that keeps societies cohesive, while in everyday speech it frequently hints at stifled individuality or unthinking obedience. Its opposite, nonconformity, carries its own rich history, particularly in religious contexts. Understanding conformity is essential to discussions of group pressure, identity, law, and ethics, making it a staple term across sociology, psychology, and everyday argument alike.
nounBehaviour in accordance with socially accepted conventions, standards, rules, or the wishes of others; the state of being in agreement with or corresponding to something established.
- Behaviour in accordance with social conventions, group norms, or the expectations of others.
- Correspondence or accordance with a rule, standard, law, or established practice (often in the phrase 'in conformity with').
"The school demanded strict conformity to its dress code."
"Teenagers often feel intense pressure toward conformity within their peer groups."
"The building was renovated in full conformity with heritage regulations."
Rarely used in the plural; the singular is strongly preferred, with the plural appearing only in technical or archaic contexts referring to multiple instances of correspondence.
"The audit compared the product's various conformities with the applicable standards."
Solomon Asch's famous experiments showed that about three-quarters of people will deny the evidence of their own eyes at least once just to match the group's answer — conformity is wired deep into us.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of conformity
Conformity entered English in the early 15th century via Old French 'conformité', ultimately from Latin 'conformitas', derived from 'conformare' meaning 'to shape or fashion alike' — from 'con-' (together) and 'forma' (form, shape). It thus shares its root with words such as conform, form, formation, and reform. The word originally carried senses of likeness or correspondence before developing its modern emphasis on compliance with social and institutional standards.
Related word forms
How conformity is actually used
The word is neutral-to-slightly-negative in tone: in sociology and psychology it describes a measurable behaviour, but in everyday usage it can carry a faint suggestion of loss of individuality. In formal and especially legal writing, 'in conformity with' is a set phrase meaning 'in accordance with'.
Easily confused with conformity
Confirmation means the act of verifying or ratifying something, while conformity means compliance with norms or correspondence to a standard.