reactionary •\re-ˈak-shə-ˌner-e\• adjective and noun adjective: extremely conservative noun: an extreme conservative; an opponent of progress or liberalism The word reactionary has appeared in 99 New York Times articles in the past year, including on April 20 in "The Man Who Made Rock 'n' Roll Safe Enough for America" by Stephen Holden: As a progressive cultural force "American Bandstand" was a mixed bag. It showcased rock 'n' roll acts both black and white, and it gave the kids on the dance floor an illusion of power by having them rate new records. "It's got a good beat" became the much-mocked cliché response. But the program, which originated in Philadelphia, was also a reactionary force in its promotion of local teen idols like Mr. Avalon, Fabian, Bobby Rydell and Chubby Checker. During the lull between rock 'n' roll's initial upsurge and Beatlemania the show's support of such wrapped-in-plastic talent helped delay the rock onslaught. Learn more about the word "reactionary" and see usage examples across a range of subjects on the Vocabulary dictionary.