environmentalism

noun

en·​vi·​ron·​men·​tal·​ism in-ˌvī-rə(n)-ˈmen-tə-ˌli-zəm 

-ˌvī(-ə)r(n)-

1

: a political and social movement focused on the preservation, restoration, and improvement of the natural environment

I urge the community to renew our commitment to environmentalism by focusing on the defining issue of our generation: global warming.

—Dan Wolk

She had embraced environmentalism as a college student, then worked with various NGOs to reduce China's air and water pollution …

—Lin Yang

Here in the heavy industry heartland of Colombia, environmentalism has old roots and has endured through decades of violence and intimidation.

—Fatima Garcia Elena

2

dated : a theory that views environment rather than heredity as the important factor in the development and especially the cultural and intellectual development of an individual or group

… an extreme environmentalism developed in psychology and anthropology which minimized, if not denied altogether, any genetic contribution to the differences among human individuals.

—Ernst Mayr

Examples of environmentalism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The abundance era As affordability has risen to the forefront of American discourse, the politics of environmentalism have shifted, and Newsom has shifted with them. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026

The League of Conservation Voters, a nonprofit dedicated to environmentalism and combating climate change, is raising its spending total to $110 million this year through its affiliated groups. — Matthew Choi, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026

These views are not the stereotypical opposition to environmentalism that stems from doubts about climate change. — Sydney Giacalone, The Conversation, 17 Sep. 2026

The land carries on the Roosevelt family’s legacy of conservation and environmentalism. — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 17 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing environmentalism

• anti-environmentalism

Rhymes for environmentalism

• abolitionism
• aldosteronism
• americanism
• anticommunism
• antisemitism
• antiterrorism
• bioterrorism
• colloquialism
• colonialism
• consequentialism
• contextualism
• conventionalism

Kids Definition

environmentalism

noun

en·​vi·​ron·​men·​tal·​ism -ˌvī-rən-ˈment-ᵊl-ˌi-zəm 

-ˌvī(-ə)rn-

: the act or process of preserving, restoring, or improving the natural environment

Medical Definition

environmentalism

noun

en·​vi·​ron·​men·​tal·​ism -ˌvī-rən-ˈment-ᵊl-ˌiz-əm, -ˌvī(-ə)rn- 

: a theory that views environment rather than heredity as the important factor in the development and especially the cultural and intellectual development of an individual or group