conservatory

noun

con·​ser·​va·​to·​ry kən-ˈsər-və-ˌtȯr-ē 

plural conservatories

1

: a greenhouse for growing or displaying plants

2

: a school specializing in one of the fine arts

a music conservatory

Synonyms

• glasshouse [chiefly British]
• greenhouse
• hothouse

Examples of conservatory in a Sentence

the Peabody Conservatory of Music

the college's conservatory is entirely devoted to cultivating and displaying orchids

Recent Examples on the Web

Image One somewhat quirky use of flowers in the exhibition is in the conservatory. —Jane L. Levere, New York Times, 20 May 2025

Photo : Will Eastwick-Field; Savills A conservatory has stone floor and underfloor heating. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 12 May 2025

The conservatory previously housed three departments: dance, theater and cinema arts. —Chrissy Suttles, Axios, 11 Mar. 2025

Flagged For 18 Health Violations In Latest Inspection—Earned Lowest Grade In County When the day heats up, stroll the cooled conservatories—the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. —Michelle Stansbury, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin conservātōrium "something that preserves" (Medieval Latin, "fish pond"), from Latin conservāre "to save or keep from danger, preserve" + -tōrium, suffix of places (from neuter of -tōrius, deverbal adjective suffix originally forming derivatives from agent nouns ending in -tōr-, -tor); (sense 2) after Italian conservatorio, originally denoting a home for foundlings and orphans who were given a musical education — more at conserve entry 1

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

conservatory

noun

con·​ser·​va·​to·​ry kən-ˈsər-və-ˌtōr-ē 

-ˌtȯr-

plural conservatories

1

: a greenhouse for growing or displaying plants

2

: a place of instruction in some special study (as music)