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

• preservation

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

Goodall showed no signs of slowing down in her 80s, traveling some 300 days a year to meet with world leaders about climate change, visit conservation projects, and support her Roots & Shoots youth environmental program. —Tricia Escobedo, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025

Meanwhile, conservation advocates argue that leaving the parks open during a shutdown leaves room for unnecessary risks. —Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025

Goodall went on to tour the world with numerous speaking dates each year, speaking on conservation, climate change and animal behavior. —Pat Saperstein, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025

The non-profit has since become one of the largest research and conservation organizations in the world, and its Roots and Shoots program has been teaching young people about conservation in more than 120 countries since 1991. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 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