What does conventionality mean?
Conventionality refers to the quality of being conventional — of following established customs, accepted standards, and traditional modes of thought or behaviour rather than striking out in new directions. It appears most often in discussions of literature, art, music, and social conduct, where critics invoke it to describe work or behaviour that stays safely within familiar boundaries. The word can be neutral, simply noting conformity to shared norms, but it frequently carries a mild negative charge, suggesting a lack of imagination or daring; praising a film for avoiding 'mere conventionality', for instance, implies it has achieved genuine originality. Conventionality also exists in the plural — 'conventionalities' — where it denotes individual conventional expressions or courtesies, such as polite formulas observed in social exchange. Rooted in the same Latin lineage as 'convention', the term offers writers and speakers a precise, slightly formal way to discuss the pull between tradition and innovation that shapes nearly every cultural judgement.
The quality or state of being conventional; adherence to established customs, accepted standards, or traditional ways of doing things.
"The critic dismissed the play's plot for its sheer conventionality."
Usually uncountable when describing the abstract quality.
A specific conventional practice, expression, or feature; something observed or included as a matter of custom.
"The letter opened with the usual conventionalities of greeting and good wishes."
In this sense the word typically appears in the plural, 'conventionalities', a usage now somewhat dated.
The plural usually refers to individual conventional acts, expressions, or social forms rather than to multiple instances of the abstract quality, which is normally treated as uncountable.
"He chafed at all the conventionalities of court life, from formal calls to prescribed dress."
The word 'conventionality' is essentially a judgment call — critics use it as a polite way of saying something is dull because it plays by the rules.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of conventionality
Conventionality derives from Latin 'conventio', meaning an agreement or meeting, formed from 'convenire' — to come together or accord. The English noun 'convention' was borrowed in the late Middle Ages via Old French, and the adjective 'conventional' emerged later to describe what accords with agreed usage or custom. Conventionality, formed from that adjective with the suffix '-ity', arose in English during the early nineteenth century as writers sought an abstract term for the state of being bound by convention. Its cognates include convene, intervene, and event, all tracing back through Latin verbs built on the root 'venire', meaning to come.
How conventionality is actually used
Mostly found in literary criticism, art commentary, and formal writing. When plural ('conventionalities'), it refers to specific conventional acts or phrases — an older, somewhat dated usage common in 19th-century prose. The word often carries a faintly pejorative shade, implying unimaginativeness rather than mere respectability.
Easily confused with conventionality
'Convention' is the custom, agreement, or gathering itself, while 'conventionality' is the abstract quality of adhering to such conventions.