Tory

See also: tory

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈtɔː.ɹi/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈtoɹ.i/
• Rhymes: -ɔːɹi

Etymology 1

From Irish tóraí (“pursuer”), from tóir (“pursuit”). The first recorded use in English is from a 1646 letter by James Butler ("Earl of Ormond") to a Colonel O' Brien, describing bandits and thieves on main roadways.

Noun

Tory (plural Tories)

1. (UK politics) A member or supporter of the Conservative Party, which evolved from Royalist politicians; historically associated with upholding the rights of the monarchy and the privileges of the established Church.

   Synonym: Conservative

   Antonym: (historic) Whig

2. (by extension) One who is like a British Tory; someone politically conservative.

   Synonyms: conservative, small-c conservative

3. (Canadian politics) A member or supporter of the Conservative Party of Canada, one of that party's predecessors, or an affiliated provincial political party.

   Synonyms: Conservative, Progressive Conservative, PC, P.C.

   • 2008, David Mutimer, Canadian Annual Review of Politics and Public Affairs 2002, page 220:

     The latest Tory budget continued the trend begun in 2000 by making further small cuts in family income taxes.

4. (historical, derogatory) A member of the political factions that sought to prevent the exclusion of James, Duke of York from the throne of England in the 17th century.
5. (now historical, derogatory) 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) A loyal British subject during the American Revolution.

   Synonyms: loyalist, Loyalist, United Empire Loyalist

   Antonym: Whig

7. (US, historical) A Union sympathizer in the Confederate States during the American Civil War.

Derived terms

Derived terms

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

Translations

a member or supporter of the Conservative Party (UK, Canada)

• Bulgarian: консерватор (bg) m (konservator)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 保守黨員／保守党员 (bǎoshǒu dǎngyuán)

• French: Tory m or f
• Georgian: ტორი (ṭori)
• German: Tory (de) m or f
• Hungarian: tory (hu)
• Irish: Tóraí m
• Japanese: トーリー (Tōrī), 保守党員 (ほしゅとういん, Hoshūtōin)
• Polish: Torys m
• Russian: то́ри (ru) m or f (tóri)
• Welsh: Tori m

someone politically conservative

• Urdu: پٹواری m (paṭvārī)

Adjective

Tory (not comparable)

1. (UK politics) Of or belonging to the Tory Party or the Conservative Party.
2. (Canadian politics) Of or belonging to the Conservative Party of Canada, one of that party's predecessors, or an affiliated provincial political party.

See also

• Whig

Etymology 2

Short for Victoria when used as a female name, and for Victor or Salvatore when used as a male name.

Proper noun

Tory

1. A female given name
2. A male given name

Etymology 3

Proper noun

Tory

1. Short for Tory Island, County Donegal, Ireland.

Anagrams

• Troy, ryot, troy, tyro