preservation

[prez-er-vey-shuhn]

noun

1. the act or process of keeping something in existence.

   The creation, stabilization, and preservation of quality long-term affordable housing is a critical step in maintaining a healthy community.

2. the act or process of keeping something safe from damage or deterioration.

   The facilities include air-conditioned storage vaults for optimum preservation of the historic film archive.

   The natural growth of population continuously presents problems for the preservation of the environment.

3. the process of preparing food or other perishables to resist spoilage or decomposition.

   Historic techniques of food preservation include drying, smoking, pickling, and salting.

Other Word Forms

• nonpreservation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of preservation¹

First recorded in 1400–50; from Medieval Latin praeservātion-, stem of praeservātio “a guarding,” equivalent to praeservāt-, stem of praeservāre + Latin -iō -ion ( def. ); preserve ( def. )

Example Sentences

Its expansion from a weekend to a weeklong event this year, notes Bridget Lawlor, preservation director for Pasadena Heritage, allows for more institutional partnerships.

From Los Angeles Times

While phase two maintenance works, including full repainting and preservation, was not due to finish until spring 2026, the bridge had remained open while this took place.

From BBC

Camp Pendleton has won praise for balancing national security needs with environmental preservation.

From Los Angeles Times

It serves as a major West Coast center of scholarship through preservation and documentation of artist archives, original research and the creation of oral histories.

From Los Angeles Times

The conference, he wrote, “underscored the movement’s vision of an America rooted in limited immigration, Christian identity and the preservation of what speakers called the nation’s traditional culture” — which is putting it very mildly.

From Salon

Related Words

• care 
• conservancy 
• conservation 
• safeguarding www.thesaurus.com
• safety 
• security 
• storage