conservation

American  

[kon-ser-vey-shuhn] / ˌkɒn sərˈveɪ ʃən /

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.

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conservation British  

/ 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

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conservation Scientific  

/ 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.

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Other Word Forms

• anticonservation
  noun
• nonconservation
  noun
• self-conservation
  noun
• conservational
  adjective
• nonconservational
  adjective
• proconservation
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of conservation

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; see conserve, -ate ¹, -ion

Explanation

Conservation is when you keep something from running out — whether it's plants, animals, or resources. Your new conservation project, "Save the Pigeons," might not catch on as quickly as you'd hoped. Conservation is closely related to preservation. Both are positive words that give an impression of care and attention. Your habit of never leaving the couch might sound more impressive if you refer to it as "energy conservation."

Example Sentences

Lamar McGlothurn’s family will receive some $16 million from insurers for the Mountain Recreation and Conservation Authority, according to a settlement reviewed by The Times and reporting by the Pasadena Star-News.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2026

He is also the founding director of the University of Cambridge's Cambridge Conservation Initiative at the David Attenborough Building, and former chief executive of BirdLife International.

From BBC • Jun. 30, 2026

County Public Works has already begun working with Neighbors Helping Neighbors and the Conservation Corps to remove brush and vegetation from private properties, according to Kerjon Lee, a spokesperson for the department.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 26, 2026

Looe Harbour Commissioners and the Ocean Conservation Trust have joined forces to protect one of the largest seagrass meadows in the South West.

From BBC • Jun. 23, 2026

Civilian Conservation Corps planted millions of kuzu seedlings to fight soil loss, a major fear in the era of the Dust Bowl.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Related Words

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