conservationist

[kon-ser-vey-shuh-nist]

noun

1. a person who advocates or promotes conservation, especially of natural resources.

conservationist

/ ˌkɒnsəˈveɪʃənɪst /

noun

1. a person who advocates or strongly promotes preservation and careful management of natural resources and of the environment

Other Word Forms

• anticonservationist noun
• proconservationist adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of conservationist¹

First recorded in 1865–70; conservation + -ist

Example Sentences

The world's top wildlife trade organisation increased protections on Friday for more than 70 species of sharks and rays, in a move conservationists hailed as a "historical win".

Read more on Barron's

The legal battle takes place as conservationists are increasingly worried about the health of the 580-square-mile reserve.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Wolves’ recovery is celebrated by conservationists who want to see the native animals thrive.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

With reintroductions, often the situation for a species is so dire—and the threat of extinction so imminent—that it’s necessary for conservationists to jump in and try something before it’s too late.

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Wildcats – one of the UK's most critically endangered mammals – could make a return from extinction in England, conservationists say.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• environmentalist