conservationist

noun con·ser·va·tion·ist \ ˌkän(t)-sər-ˈvā-sh(ə-)nist \

|Updated on: 19 Aug 2018

Definition of conservationist

: a person who advocates conservation especially of natural resources

See conservationist defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of conservationist from the Web

Losing the rhinos is ‘‘a complete disaster,’’ said prominent Kenyan conservationist Paula Kahumbu of WildlifeDirect.

— khaled kazziha, BostonGlobe.com, "7 endangered rhinos dead in Kenya relocation bid," 13 July 2018
Jack Hanna, an animal expert/conservationist, was honored.

— jane napier neely, latimes.com, "The Valley Line: Glendale Area Alumnae Panhellenic meets for fundraising luncheon, locals involved in L.A. Zoo’s Beastly Ball," 4 June 2018
Not too long ago Bindi Irwin was the animal-loving toddler that appeared on The Crocodile Hunter Diaries with her dad Steve Irwin, the late conservationist.

— caroline picard, Good Housekeeping, "Here's What Bindi Irwin, Steve Irwin's Teen Daughter, Is Up to Now," 19 Apr. 2018
The slow-burning threat of sea level rise has conservationists fighting on two fronts.

— henry gass, The Christian Science Monitor, "As more Texans 'Give a Whoop,' hope for saving iconic cranes – and coast," 2 Apr. 2018
Nature conservationists at Yosemite Valley, California have garnered over 17,000 signatures in an effort to prevent them from opening a store on park grounds.

— marissa miller, Teen Vogue, "Potential Starbucks in Yosemite National Park Draws Protesters," 11 Jan. 2018
As news spread about the deadly encounter at Sibuya Game Reserve, some conservationists and others expressed approval that poachers may have received due punishment from the lions.

— lindsey bever, latimes.com, "Poachers were looking for rhinos. They found hungry lions instead, game reserve says," 6 July 2018
The two conservationists were experienced backpackers.

— lisa gutierrez, kansascity, "Missouri hikers were on 'trip of a lifetime' in Alaska. Their lives ended there," 5 July 2018
His organization's founders started buying up forest land a hundred years ago, but much of it is younger forests that aren't maturing as big or as fast as some conservationists would like to see.

— CBS News, "Mapping the genome of redwoods," 1 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'conservationist.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of conservationist

1870

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

CONSERVATIONIST Defined for English Language Learners

conservationist

noun

Definition of conservationist for English Language Learners

: someone who works to protect animals, plants, and natural resources or to prevent the loss or waste of natural resources : a person who is involved in conservation