Trivia Time

Who first popularized the word conservation in its modern sense of protecting natural resources?

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conservation

American  

[kon-ser-vay-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

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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

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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

See Examples For:

conservation

In September, they completed a complex energy conservation project designed to preserve the spacecraft's remaining scientific capabilities.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 3, 2026

Hu, who works in real estate and construction, has lived for two decades on a street in Ashburn, Va., that backs up to a wooded conservation easement where, she thought, nothing could be built.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026

Just last month the WWF praised conservation efforts which had achieved the recovery of key species including elephants, green sea turtles and tigers.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

It created a tribal conservation corps four years later to give hands-on training for native youth and young adults in ecology, climate resilience and human well-being.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026

“Yes. I’m ready. It will make them happy. Besides, I’m going to be very occupied. I’m going to speak to the conservation officer about getting a falconer’s license.”

From "On the Far Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George

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Related Words

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

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