Main Entry: res·er·va·tion

Pronunciation: \ˌre-zər-ˈvā-shən\

Function: noun

Date: 15th century

1 : an act of reserving something: as a (1) : the act or fact of a grantor's reserving some newly created thing out of the thing granted (2) : the right or interest so reserved b : the setting of limiting conditions or withholding from complete exposition <answered without reservation> c : an arrangement to have something (as a hotel room) held for one's use; also : a promise, guarantee, or record of such engagement
2 a : a limiting condition <agreed, but with reservations> b : doubt, misgiving <had serious reservations about marriage>
3 : something reserved: as a : a tract of public land set aside (as for use by American Indians) b : an area in which hunting is not permitted; especially : one set aside as a secure breeding place

— res·er·va·tion·ist \-sh(ə-)nist\ noun