conservation

[ kon-ser-vey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of conserving; prevention of injury, decay, waste, or loss; preservation:

   conservation of wildlife;

   conservation of human rights.

   Synonyms: protection, husbandry, care

2. official supervision of rivers, forests, and other natural resources in order to preserve and protect them through prudent management.
3. a district, river, forest, etc., under such supervision.
4. the careful utilization of a natural resource in order to prevent depletion.
5. the restoration and preservation of works of art.

conservation

/ ˌkɒnsəˈveɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of conserving or keeping from change, loss, injury, etc
2. 1. protection, preservation, and careful management of natural resources and of the environment
   2. ( as modifier )

      a conservation area

conservation

/ kŏn′sûr-vā′shən /

1. The protection, preservation, management, or restoration of natural environments and the ecological communities that inhabit them. Conservation is generally held to include the management of human use of natural resources for current public benefit and sustainable social and economic utilization.

Derived Forms

• ˌconserˈvational, adjective

Other Words From

• conser·vation·al adjective
• anti·conser·vation noun adjective
• noncon·ser·vation noun
• noncon·ser·vation·al adjective
• procon·ser·vation adjective
• self-conser·vation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of conservation¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English conservacioun, from Latin conservātiōn- (stem of conservātiō ), equivalent to conservāt(us) (past participle of conservāre “to save, preserve”) + -iōn- noun suffix; conserve, -ate ¹, -ion

Example Sentences

This genetic blueprint will be an invaluable tool for future conservation efforts.

From Science Daily

Dunn pointed out that several countries are taking a "multi-faceted" approach to address a lack of water by combining desalination with methods such as water recycling, rainwater harvesting, and conservation measures.

From Science Daily

The 15,800-acre Windsor estate, west of London, includes working farms, conservation areas, Windsor Great Park and famous royal landmarks, such as Windsor Castle.

From BBC

Trump’s first administration rolled back more than 100 regulations on clean air and water, toxic chemicals and wildlife conservation.

From Los Angeles Times

Antarctic blue whales are listed as an endangered species, and understanding their population structure is essential for their conservation.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• care
• conservancy
• control
• maintenance
• management
• protection
• supervision