conservation

noun

con·​ser·​va·​tion ˌkän(t)-sər-ˈvā-shən 

1

: a careful preservation and protection of something

especially : planned management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect

water conservation

wildlife conservation

2

: the preservation of a physical quantity during transformations or reactions

conservational

ˌkän(t)-sər-ˈvā-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

adjective

Synonyms

• conservancy
• preservation
• sustentation

Examples of conservation in a Sentence

They are trying to raise money for conservation.

the conservation of the environment

She specializes in the conservation of furniture.

the conservation of religious shrines

Recent Examples on the Web

This data challenges the notion that protecting nursery areas alone is sufficient for safeguarding young sharks, pointing to the need for broader conservation measures that account for their wide-ranging movements. —Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024

Joe Liebezeit is a staff scientist and avian conservation manager of Portland Audubon Society. —Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Dec. 2024

This conservation haven owes its existence to the sewage plant’s toxic history. —Mark Degraff, The Mercury News, 14 Dec. 2024

But the scientists hope their work on the Greenland shark genome will ultimately help the species’ conservation, Hoffman said. —Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English conservacioun "maintenance in good condition," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French conservacion "preservation, protection," borrowed from Latin conservātiōn-, conservātiō "action of keeping intact or unharmed, preservation," from conservāre "to save or keep from danger, preserve, keep unchanged" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at conserve entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing conservation

• anti-conservation
• conservation area
• conservation of charge
• conservation of energy
• conservation of mass

Kids Definition

conservation

noun

con·​ser·​va·​tion ˌkän(t)-sər-ˈvā-shən 

: a careful preservation and protection of something

especially : planned management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, pollution, destruction, or neglect