conchy
Definition
Noun: - (Slang) A person who refuses to serve in the military due to conscientious objection, specifically because they believe it is morally wrong.
Usage Examples
- (A person who refused military service on moral grounds.)
- (Conscientious objectors who rejected armed service.)
Advanced Usage
"to be a conchy": to be a conscientious objector.
- He declared himself a conchy and was sent to work in a hospital instead. (He claimed exemption from combat due to moral beliefs.)
"conchy sentiment": the attitude or belief that refusing military service is morally justified.
- The community was divided over conchy sentiment during the draft. (The community disagreed about the morality of conscientious objection.)
Variants and Related Words
Conchie (n): an alternative spelling of "conchy," meaning the same thing.
- The term "conchie" was often used pejoratively. (The variant spelling carried a negative connotation.)
Conscientious objector (n): a person who formally refuses military service for moral or religious reasons; the formal term for a conchy.
- He registered as a conscientious objector, not a conchy. (He used the official term instead of the slang.)
Synonyms
- Objector: a person who expresses opposition to something, especially military service.
- Pacifist: someone who believes that war and violence are morally wrong and refuses to participate.
- Draft dodger: a person who avoids compulsory military service (often by illegal means, unlike a conchy who objects morally).
Related Idioms
To follow one's conscience: to act according to one's moral beliefs.
- The conchy followed his conscience by refusing to take up arms. (He acted on his moral principles.)
To bear a cross: to endure a burden or hardship for one's beliefs.
- Being a conchy during wartime was a heavy cross to bear. (It was a difficult burden due to social stigma.)