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

As resulting initiatives like Spelman’s and HBCUs Outside become more commonplace, there can be a signal to a new generation of young Black people that the intersection of environmentalism and cultural resilience are imperatives of Black futurity. —Essence, 25 Nov. 2024

The play touches on themes of environmentalism, the climate emergency and consumer capitalism. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2024

Carson’s book ushered in a wave of environmentalism in America; at the same time, Tsutsui points out, the Big Bug films died out. —Salama Udaipurwala, JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2024

All three candidates lost — Lamm received just 13,000 votes — bringing an end to what Pope described as the first modern battle to bring white supremacy into mainstream America under the guise of environmentalism. —Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica, 19 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