conservation

noun

con·​ser·​va·​tion ˌkän(t)-sər-ˈvā-shən 

1

: a careful preservation and protection of something

especially : planned management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect

water conservation

wildlife conservation

2

: the preservation of a physical quantity during transformations or reactions

conservational

ˌkän(t)-sər-ˈvā-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

adjective

Synonyms

• conservancy
• preservation
• sustentation

Examples of conservation in a Sentence

They are trying to raise money for conservation.

the conservation of the environment

She specializes in the conservation of furniture.

the conservation of religious shrines

Recent Examples on the Web

The exterior coverings will also be dismantled, and repaired or replaced, while a 43.5-meter-tall interior scaffolding system will support the conservation of mosaics on the interior of the historic building. —Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025

Tabei’s efforts helped bring global attention to the need for conservation in high-altitude environments, inspiring climbers to take a more responsible approach to their expeditions. —Jenny Hall, CNN Money, 14 May 2025

Missouri is home to a little over 1,000 black bears, according to the state conservation department. —Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2025

The Montrose Beach family is part of an ongoing effort to restore the region’s piping plover population, which reached an all-time low of 13 pairs in the 1980s and has rebounded to around 80 breeding pairs thanks to recent conservation efforts. —Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English conservacioun "maintenance in good condition," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French conservacion "preservation, protection," borrowed from Latin conservātiōn-, conservātiō "action of keeping intact or unharmed, preservation," from conservāre "to save or keep from danger, preserve, keep unchanged" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at conserve entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing conservation

• anti-conservation
• conservation area
• conservation of charge
• conservation of energy
• conservation of mass

Rhymes for conservation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

conservation

noun

con·​ser·​va·​tion ˌkän(t)-sər-ˈvā-shən 

: a careful preservation and protection of something

especially : planned management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, pollution, destruction, or neglect