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

Sources: Disability Scoop, The New York Times A meta-analysis found that conservation can stop biodiversity loss Including 186 studies from around the globe, a University of Oxford paper is the first to comprehensively examine whether conservation efforts are successful in general. —Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 July 2024

The hotel group employs several practices to combat its environmental impact, from water and waste management to energy conservation and regenerative agriculture. —Annie Archer, Travel + Leisure, 13 July 2024

Colossal also plans to support the foundations of traditional conservation efforts and identify key pressures that are driving extinction. —Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 11 July 2024

For many, especially museum professionals and conservators, its conservation trumps the importance of its return, but Rozental disagrees. —Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 11 July 2024

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

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