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

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 tension between consumption and preservation raises an interesting psychological dilemma. Mark Littler, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024 Its age and preservation both play a role in its uniqueness. Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 26 Oct. 2024 The partners are linked by architect Peter Marino, who was named chairman of the Venetian Heritage Foundation, a philanthropic organization dedicated to the restoration and preservation of Venice’s cultural treasures, in 2019. Joelle Diderich, WWD, 26 Oct. 2024 The opulent Lafayette Hotel, recently named best new hotel by Esquire Magazine, was honored for its historic preservation and architectural lighting. Kate Murphy, Axios, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for preservation 

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 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

preservation

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

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