Tory

English

Noun

Tory (plural Tories)

1. (UK) A member or supporter of the British Conservative Party, which evolved from Royalist politicians; associated with upholding the rights of the monarchy and the privileges of the established Church.
2. (by extension) One who is like a British Tory; someone politically conservative.
3. (Canada) A member or supporter of the Conservative Party of Canada or one of that party's predecessors.
4. (historical) A pejorative nickname given to the political factions who sought to exclude James, Duke of York from the throne of England (the Exclusioners) in the 17th century.
5. (obsolete except historical) A pejorative term for an Irish rebel fighting against English rule at the end of the Confederate War and Cromwellian invasion; later extended to other rebels or bandits.
6. (US, historical, American Revolution) A loyal British citizen.
7. (US, historical, American Civil War, Confederate states) A Union sympathizer.

Synonyms

• (Politically conservative): conservative, small-c conservative
• (Canada): Conservative, Progressive Conservative, PC, P.C.
• (American Revolution): loyalist, Loyalist, United Empire Loyalist

Derived terms

• blue Tory
• red Tory
• Torify, Toryfy
• Toryish
• Toryism
• Tory-Irish
• Tory-Radical
• Tory-Williamite

Antonyms

• Whig

Adjective

Tory (not comparable)

1. (UK) Of or belonging to the Tory Party or the Conservative Party.
2. (Canada) Of or belonging to the Conservative Party of Canada or one of that party's predecessors.

Related terms

• tory
• Tories

Thesaurus

Bircher, Bourbon, Conservative, Democrat, Labourite, Republican, Whig, conservatist, conservative, diehard, extreme right-winger, hard hat, heeler, imperialist, loyalist, monarchist, partisan, party faithful, party hack, party man, party member, party wheelhorse, radical right, reactionarist, reactionary, reactionist, registered Democrat, registered Republican, regular, right, right wing, right-winger, rightist, royalist, social Darwinist, stalwart, standpat, standpatter, ultraconservative, ward heeler, wheelhorse

Etymology

From Irish *tóraidhe (“pursuer”) (unattested except in derivatives, eg tóraigheachd (“pusuit”)), from tóir (“to pursue”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈtɔːɹi/

Anagrams

• ryot
• troy, Troy
• tyro