verb
conform
kuhn-FAWM
verb
1
To match your behaviour, appearance, or attitudes to what is expected or normal, especially to fit in with a group.
"She refused to conform to the office dress code."
"Teenagers often feel pressure to conform to their friends' tastes."
2
To meet a required standard, specification, or rule.
"The new wiring has to conform to the latest safety regulations."
"This batch of parts does not conform to spec and will be rejected."
How to Use Conform
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo go along with a standard, rule, or the behaviour of the group instead of doing your own thing.
Common mistake
Takes "to": conform TO the rules, not "conform the rules".
Common pairings
conform to standards
conform to expectations
refuse to conform
Word Forms
conformed past tense, conforms singular
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Etymology
From Middle French conformer, from Latin conformare, "to shape something to match a pattern" — from com- ("together") + formare ("to form").