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

• care and feeding
• conservation
• conserving
• keep
• maintenance
• preserving
• sustentation
• upkeep

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

Transportation officials have been studying road usage fees (pay per mile) and other ideas, but King suggests redirecting a percentage of vehicle sales taxes into the transportation preservation and maintenance account. —Carleen Johnson | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 15 Dec. 2024

Data from World Wildlife Fund Mexico, a branch of the independent global wildlife preservation organization that tracks monarch migration in that country, revealed monarchs occupied just 2.2 acres of their traditional overwintering grounds last year, a 59 percent decline from the previous season. —Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024

Finding the cemetery after all this time was exciting but also solemn for Tony Guzzi, chief of preservation and site operations. —Travis Loller, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024

One example often seen in feedback is that older groups might prioritize wealth preservation, younger generations may champion impact investing or technological disruption. —Francois Botha, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing preservation

• preservation order
• self-preservation
• state of preservation

Kids Definition

preservation

noun

pres·​er·​va·​tion

ˌprez-ər-ˈvā-shən

: a keeping from injury, loss, or decay