Conventionnelles

Conventionnelles is the feminine plural form of the French adjective conventionnel. It describes things that adhere to established norms, standards, or traditional practices. The term is used across disciplines to contrast with innovative, experimental, or alternative approaches, which are often labeled non conventionnelles or alternatives. In everyday usage, conventionnelles can refer to methods, tools, products, or policies that are widely accepted and routinely used.

In agriculture, agriculture conventionnelle refers to farming practices that rely on synthetic fertilizers, chemical pesticides, and standard crop protection methods, as opposed to organic or sustainable farming approaches. In medicine, médecine conventionnelle denotes the mainstream, evidence-based medical practice, in contrast with médecine alternative or complémentaire. In energy and industry, énergies conventionnelles designates fossil fuels and nuclear power, contrasted with énergies renouvelables or other non conventionnelles sources. In defense, armes conventionnelles are weapons that rely on conventional explosive devices, in contrast with weapons non conventionnelles such as nuclear, chemical, or biological arms.

The term can carry a neutral descriptive tone or a subtly conservative or status-quo nuance, depending on context. It is often used to categorize practices, technologies, or policies as standard and widely accepted, while implying that alternatives may offer different or innovative approaches. The feminine plural form accompanies feminine nouns, as in techniques conventionnelles or fournitures conventionnelles, and it is commonly found in French-language discourse across science, industry, and public policy.