state of preservation
noun phrase
: the condition in which something has been kept
The ancient paintings were found in a perfect state of preservation.
The shrine is in a poor state of preservation.
Examples of state of preservation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The pieces were in a relatively good state of preservation, officials said, and scans of the items showed more of their details.
—
Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2025
The tomb was found in a poor state of preservation, due to flooding that would have happened shortly after the king’s death, according to Mohamed Abdel Badi, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector and co-leader of the mission.
—Rosa Rahimi, CNN, 19 Feb. 2025
Depending on their state of preservation, artifacts might even answer questions about the Pacific’s condition prior to the collision—for example, whether the ship’s hull was dangerously rotten.
—Joel Sams, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Jan. 2025
The 280-million-year-old reptile specimen has been hailed for the remarkable state of preservation of its skin, but there’s more to it than meets the eye.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
Their poor state of preservation may frustrate efforts to extract DNA for analysis that could help identify their relation to one another, but the team remains hopeful.
—Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 28 Dec. 2023
As for the Bentley, with its storied provenance and impeccable state of preservation, it’s estimated to fetch as much as $1.6 million.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 25 Sep. 2023
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Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2025
The tomb was found in a poor state of preservation, due to flooding that would have happened shortly after the king’s death, according to Mohamed Abdel Badi, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector and co-leader of the mission.
—Rosa Rahimi, CNN, 19 Feb. 2025
Depending on their state of preservation, artifacts might even answer questions about the Pacific’s condition prior to the collision—for example, whether the ship’s hull was dangerously rotten.
—Joel Sams, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Jan. 2025
The 280-million-year-old reptile specimen has been hailed for the remarkable state of preservation of its skin, but there’s more to it than meets the eye.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
Their poor state of preservation may frustrate efforts to extract DNA for analysis that could help identify their relation to one another, but the team remains hopeful.
—Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 28 Dec. 2023
As for the Bentley, with its storied provenance and impeccable state of preservation, it’s estimated to fetch as much as $1.6 million.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 25 Sep. 2023
Cite this Entry
“State of preservation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/state%20of%20preservation. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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