conservation

noun

con·​ser·​va·​tion ˌkän(t)-sər-ˈvā-shən How to pronounce conservation (audio)
Synonyms of conservation
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-sh(ə-)nəl How to pronounce conservation (audio)
adjective

Synonyms of conservation

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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
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Bull Shoals was six feet from the conservation pool level, but Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals, Norfork and Greer's Ferry are all lakes that generate hydro-power, which will be reduced because of the low water conditions. — Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026 The state officials would include the secretaries of energy and environmental affairs and housing and livable communities, the commissioners of fish and game and conservation and recreation, and the state's climate chief. — Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026 Now, a team of fungi conservationists from 30 countries led by Mueller has set out to integrate fungal conservation into the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a central part of negotiations at COP17. — John Cannon, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026 The pair met while working as wranglers at a guest ranch in Colorado, brought together by backgrounds spanning conservation, environmental education, horses and guiding. — Chloe Frost-Smith, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for conservation

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of conservation was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing conservation

Rhymes for conservation

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Browse Nearby Words

conservant
conservation
conservational
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Cite this Entry

“Conservation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conservation. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

conservation

noun
con·​ser·​va·​tion ˌkän(t)-sər-ˈvā-shən How to pronounce conservation (audio)
: a careful preservation and protection of something
especially : planned management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, pollution, destruction, or neglect

More from Merriam-Webster on conservation

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about conservation

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