conservancy

noun

con·​ser·​van·​cy kən-ˈsər-vən(t)-sē How to pronounce conservancy (audio)
plural conservancies
1
British : a board regulating fisheries and navigation in a river or port
2
b
: an organization or area designated to conserve and protect natural resources

Examples of conservancy in a Sentence

The land was recently donated to a local conservancy. raising money for the conservancy of natural resources
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Bass also maintained a 1,000-acre estate in Kent, Connecticut, with extensive gardens that, at the time of her death, family members said would likely be preserved, possibly as a land conservancy. Kim Velsey, Curbed, 17 Jan. 2025 The conservancy needs the money for restoration work on public lands in the basin, work that creates local jobs. Jake Pearson, ProPublica, 10 Feb. 2025 What's next: The new comprehensive plan will be released at the 28th Annual Landmark Luncheon, the conservancy's largest fundraising event. Kristal Dixon, Axios, 7 Feb. 2025 In November, the conservancy held a private boat tour for supporters of the ship and some who crossed the Atlantic on her decades ago. Danny Freeman, CNN, 18 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for conservancy

Word History

Etymology

Middle English conservancie "act of conserving or keeping safe," borrowed from Medieval Latin conservantia "conservation, office of a conservator," noun derivative of Latin conservant-, conservans, present participle of conservāre "to save or keep from danger, preserve, keep unchanged" — more at conserve entry 1

First Known Use

1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of conservancy was in 1667

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Cite this Entry

“Conservancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conservancy. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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