environmentalism

noun

en·​vi·​ron·​men·​tal·​ism in-ˌvī-rə(n)-ˈmen-tə-ˌli-zəm 

-ˌvī(-ə)r(n)-

1

: a political and social movement focused on the preservation, restoration, and improvement of the natural environment

I urge the community to renew our commitment to environmentalism by focusing on the defining issue of our generation: global warming.

—Dan Wolk

She had embraced environmentalism as a college student, then worked with various NGOs to reduce China's air and water pollution …

—Lin Yang

Here in the heavy industry heartland of Colombia, environmentalism has old roots and has endured through decades of violence and intimidation.

—Fatima Garcia Elena

2

dated : a theory that views environment rather than heredity as the important factor in the development and especially the cultural and intellectual development of an individual or group

… an extreme environmentalism developed in psychology and anthropology which minimized, if not denied altogether, any genetic contribution to the differences among human individuals.

—Ernst Mayr

Examples of environmentalism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Vice President Harris delivered one of three eulogies Tuesday, lauding Carter at the Capitol for his contributions to environmentalism and conservation, his work with Habitat for Humanity and his successful efforts in 1978 to broker a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt. —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 8 Jan. 2025

Because of DiCaprio's contributions to environmentalism, the team decided to name the snake Anguiculus DiCaprio. —Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 25 Dec. 2024

Radical individualists come to environmentalism from a different place than other people who support the cause. —Keren Landman, Vox, 10 Dec. 2024

Manufacturers who are proactive about environmentalism will find themselves in a more appealing situation than those who keep kicking the can down the road on sustainability. —Jeff Fromm, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing environmentalism

• anti-environmentalism

Kids Definition

environmentalism

noun

en·​vi·​ron·​men·​tal·​ism -ˌvī-rən-ˈment-ᵊl-ˌi-zəm 

-ˌvī(-ə)rn-

: the act or process of preserving, restoring, or improving the natural environment

Medical Definition

environmentalism

noun

en·​vi·​ron·​men·​tal·​ism -ˌvī-rən-ˈment-ᵊl-ˌiz-əm, -ˌvī(-ə)rn- 

: a theory that views environment rather than heredity as the important factor in the development and especially the cultural and intellectual development of an individual or group