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

• 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 commission’s decision Thursday at a meeting in Redondo Beach came after years of back-and-forth between Levy and the Coastal Commission over a string of allegations related to public access, unpermitted construction, and habitat preservation requirements. —Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025

But no matter the understanding of offenses or talent preservation, a freshman’s ability to play all comes down to talent, and Brown and Wilson ooze ability. —Noah White, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2025

The report pointed to a series of what the department considered to be successes — most notably the preservation of thousands of lives. —Tom Tapp, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2025

The Spanish island is trying to strike a balance between preservation and tourism. —Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025

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