least concern

[ leest kuhn-surn ]

adjective

, Biology, Ecology.

1. (of a plant or animal species) assessed to be thriving, with a distribution or population status that is neither threatened nor near threatened, as categorized by the IUCN Red List: : LC

   Among the least concern birds on our favorite watches are the sandhill cranes and the pied-billed grebes.

Word History and Origins

Origin of least concern¹

First recorded in 1995–2000

Example Sentences

The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers the species to be of “least concern.”

From Los Angeles Times

Today, the whales have recovered to the point that they are considered a species of “least concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, though the organization considers the western population of the whales that lives off Asia to be endangered.

From Seattle Times

Right now, the International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the green anaconda as a species of least concern when it comes to extinction risk—but this classification is based, in part, on how widely distributed a species is.

From National Geographic

"In the 21st Century people shouldn't be worried about food. That should be the least concern," she added.

From BBC

The study also highlights steep declines among raptors that are currently classified as being of 'least concern' in the global Red List of threatened species.

From Science Daily