conform

/kənˈfɔːrm/
to comply with rules or standards

Students must conform to the school's dress code.

Students must follow the school's rules about clothing.


general

to behave in accordance with rules, standards, or expectations

The company expects all employees to conform to its ethical guidelines.

The company requires employees to follow its ethical rules.

She decided not to conform to societal expectations and pursued her own path.

She chose not to follow traditional societal norms and did what she wanted.

Often used in contexts where compliance is expected or required.

general

to match or be consistent with something

The new design conforms to the company's branding standards.

The new design matches the company's branding rules.

The data conforms to the expected pattern.

The data fits the expected pattern.

Used in formal or technical contexts to describe alignment or consistency.

Collocations

conform toto follow or match rules, standards, or expectationsconform withto be consistent with or match something

Related Phrases

conform to expectationsphrase
to meet or follow what is expected
conform to standardsphrase
to meet or follow established rules or guidelines

Pro Tip

Common Usage

The phrase 'conform to' is more common than 'conform with'.

Gold Rule

Formal vs. Informal

In formal contexts, 'conform' is often used to describe compliance with rules or standards.

Word Origin

From Latin 'conformare', meaning 'to form together' or 'to shape together'.

Usage Notes

Can be used both positively (following rules) and negatively (stifling individuality).

Word Breakdown

con-
together
prefix
+
-form
shape or structure
root
English Dictionary