preservation

noun

pres·​er·​va·​tion ˌpre-zər-ˈvā-shən How to pronounce preservation (audio)
: the act, process, or result of preserving something: such as
a
: the activity or process of keeping something valued alive, intact, or free from damage or decay
preservation of state parks/monuments
preservation of an old tradition
The special emphasis of recent years on preservation continued in 1988. More than 8,000 brittle volumes (1.5 million pages) were committed to microfilm; an additional 777 rare books, manuscripts, and historical films received special conservation treatment.Library and Book Trade Almanac
These and so many lesser red flags seem finally to be shifting public interest toward the preservation of wildlife and natural habitats.E. Annie Proulx
b
: the preparation of food for future use (as by canning, pickling, or freezing) to prevent spoilage
the use of salt in the preservation of meat
In the years following the first Earth Day in 1970, a contingent of Americans insisted on developing pesticide-free systems of farming and anti-chemical methods of food preservation and preparation.Tibbett L. Speer

Examples of preservation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Some states, like Florida, have moved to help the preservation of land and archives. Gerard Albert, NPR, 1 Mar. 2024 Against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war, the preservation of customs like kohl-making assumes greater significance in the Palestinian context. Zahra Hankir, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024 While historically inclined towards wealth preservation, Middle Eastern Family Offices are increasingly shifting towards identifying growth opportunities. Paul Westall, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Criteria for historic designation The Historic and Cultural designation status requires a property to meet criteria for historical significance and structural integrity as laid out by the city’s historic preservation ordinance. Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Feb. 2024 Proceeds support the club’s education foundation, scholarships for local graduating seniors and the preservation of the Alpine Historic Town Hall, which was established in 1899. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2024 Under his guidance, The Film Heritage Foundation has been rendering yeoman service in the area of archival preservation and restoration. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 23 Feb. 2024 On this week’s episode, Rex speaks with Mason Ellis of WER Architects, an Arkansas firm that specializes in historic preservation and restoration. Rex Nelson, arkansasonline.com, 23 Feb. 2024 Consequently, the pursuit of justice becomes prioritized over the preservation of harmony and mutual respect. Mark Travers, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'preservation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of preservation was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near preservation

Cite this Entry

“Preservation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preservation. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

preservation

noun
pres·​er·​va·​tion
ˌprez-ər-ˈvā-shən
: a keeping from injury, loss, or decay

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