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-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Synonyms of conservation

• 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

Once a site on the Tentative List is formally nominated, independent advisory bodies assess its significance and conservation measures. — Karina Acharya, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026

And not my friend Ruth Ganesh, who brought a herd of 100 life-size elephant sculptures made from the Lantana camara weed in Southern India to America to raise awareness for wildlife conservation. — Dodie Kazanjian, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026

Research into a trapdoor spider species named after comedian Stephen Colbert is proving significant in a way that could one day have medical or coastal conservation applications. — Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2026

As such, if the clouds manage to pull on each other and spiral into one another, the initial spiraling motion is conserved into the final rotation of the merged cloud, under the law of conservation of angular momentum. — Edwin Alexani, The Conversation, 2 Nov. 2026

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