conservationist

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

Updated on: 16 Apr 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

While not a total ban, many conservationists saw the moves as progress.

— brian j. skerry, National Geographic, "How One Country Is Restoring Its Damaged Ocean," 11 Apr. 2018
Protecting those from damage was a priority for conservationists.

— deborah sullivan brennan, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Fishery council safeguards 16,000 square miles off California," 10 Apr. 2018
Graves, as well as homes, are being relocated, but some succumbed to the sea before action could be taken, as local conservationist Moala Tokota’a explained.

— paul takahashi, Houston Chronicle, "Seafood restaurants squeezed by climate change, growing appetites," 6 Apr. 2018
Volunteer conservationists have installed a live cam of a Lake Norman osprey and her three eggs.

— joe marusak, charlotteobserver, "Zoom in on this NC bird of prey's nest. You might get to watch the babies hatching. | Charlotte Observer," 6 Apr. 2018
Since the 1990s, conservationists, charities and government agencies around Boise have put a premium on preserving Foothills land from development.

— sven berg, idahostatesman, "This land buy preserves more Foothills, opens way for trails to link Boise to Avimor | Idaho Statesman," 4 Apr. 2018
Their numbers dipped below 100 around a century ago, but an intense effort initiated by South African conservationist Ian Player in the mid-20th century turned things around.

— tom odula, BostonGlobe.com, "World’s last male northern white rhino, Sudan, dies," 20 Mar. 2018
Their numbers dipped below 100 around a century ago, but an intense effort initiated by South African conservationist Ian Player in the mid-20th century turned things around.

— tom odula, The Christian Science Monitor, "World's last male northern white rhino, Sudan, dies," 20 Mar. 2018
But supporters of Tompkins and other wealthy conservationists say that such land grabbing is for a greater good that trumps national interests: saving the planet for future -generations.

— Newsweek, "Amazing Photos of Bioluminescent Phytoplankton," 14 Mar. 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

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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