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

Eric Lafforgue/Art in All of Us/Corbis via Getty Images Listing them under the Endangered Species Act would also increase funding for species conservation in range countries and for research efforts to address conservation. —Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2024

Money raised from Arizona lottery games goes toward funding higher education, health and human services, environmental conservation and economic and business development in the state. —Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 20 Nov. 2024

Beyond film, Jolie champions environmental conservation, education initiatives, and sustainable fashion through Atelier Jolie. —Clayton Davis, Variety, 18 Nov. 2024

New Jersey American Water, which serves about 2.9 million people in the state, issued a conservation notice to its customers Wednesday. —Melissa Chan, NBC News, 13 Nov. 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