preservation

noun

pres·​er·​va·​tion ˌpre-zər-ˈvā-shən 

: 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

Synonyms of preservation

• preserving
• maintenance

Examples of preservation in a Sentence

each curator is responsible for the preservation of the works of art within his or her department

the preservation of the tropical rainforests is a global responsibility

Recent Examples on the Web

The walls that aren’t subject to preservation are sheathed in vast Claro walnut panels of a sinuous, almost figurative grain. —Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 14 June 2026

Some preservation advocates and Historic Preservation Board members have also questioned the speed of the process, noting that the proposal moved from announcement to council consideration in a matter of days. —Sarah M. Boye, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2026

The assessment, part of a historic preservation review that began last Friday, includes details like the need for 320-foot-tall cranes to construct the 250-foot-tall arch, which be more than twice the height of the Lincoln Memorial. —Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 12 June 2026

Built in the 1830s, the 25-foot-wide home was completely reimagined by Yellowtrees Studio, resulting in a thoughtful blend of historic character and contemporary design that avoids both museum-like preservation and the formulaic feel of a luxury flip. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 12 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing preservation

• preservation order
• self-preservation
• state of preservation

Rhymes for preservation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

preservation

noun

pres·​er·​va·​tion

ˌprez-ər-ˈvā-shən

: a keeping from injury, loss, or decay