conform

Conform is a verb that can mean to comply with rules, standards, or social expectations, or to match or fit a form, pattern, or system. It can also mean to shape something so that it takes a required form or to align with a surface or structure. The noun form conformity refers to the act or state of conforming or the degree to which one conforms.

Etymology traces conform to the Latin conformare, meaning to bring into shape or to form together. In everyday language, conformity often implies adjusting behavior or beliefs to blend with a group or with established norms.

In social psychology, conformity describes the adjustment of one’s thoughts or actions to align with a group, driven by normative influence (the desire to be liked) or informational influence (the belief that the group is correct). Classic experiments, such as Asch’s line judgments, illustrate how group pressures can shape perception and decision-making. Conformity can promote social cohesion but may also suppress individuality or critical thinking.

In law and industry, the phrase “in conformity with” or “conform to” designates compliance with standards, regulations, or specifications. Conformance testing and certification assess whether products or processes meet established criteria.

In science and mathematics, conform can describe matching a surface or form, as in geometry, where conformal mappings preserve angles, or in chemistry, where molecules exist in different conformations (conformers) due to rotations about bonds. The concept of conformity thus spans social behavior, law and policy, and technical and scientific contexts, underscoring the balance between alignment with external standards and the maintenance of distinct properties or identities.