conservationist

American  

[kon-ser-vey-shuh-nist] / ˌkɒn sərˈveɪ ʃə nɪst /

noun

conservationists plural

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

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conservationist British  

/ ˌkɒnsəˈveɪʃənɪst /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• anticonservationist
  noun
• proconservationist
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• conservationists
  plural

Etymology

Origin of conservationist

First recorded in 1865–70; conservation + -ist

Compare meaning

How does conservationist compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• conservationist vs. environmentalist

Explanation

A conservationist is someone who protects animals, plants, or their habitats. Some conservationists clean seabirds after oil spills in the ocean, while others are teachers who educate students about environmental issues. If you care about preserving wildlife and the environment, you might want to be a conservationist. As a job, this can mean working as a wildlife biologist, an environmental political lobbyist, a forestry technician, or a park ranger — all professions that involve the care and protection of land, waters, and animals. You're also a conservationist if you volunteer at a local wildlife rehabilitation center or regularly call your state representatives to encourage their votes on environmental legislation.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

conservationist conservationists

"Bill was a multi-talented celebrity -- wildlife presenter, broadcaster, comedian, writer, songwriter, musician and conservationist," his agent David Foster said in a statement.

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

While many countries attempt to balance ecosystem preservation with large-scale development or industry, the Galápagos operates under a highly regulated, conservationist approach.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

Robert Irwin, conservationist and TV presenter, spoke of the need for both "urgency and optimism" in seeking to protect the environment.

From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026

"Revoking permits is not immediately a win," said Panut Hadisiswoyo, a conservationist and orangutan specialist.

From Barron's ● Feb. 19, 2026

He was, however, an expert and deadly shot, a good hunter, also a conservationist.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

From "heatwave simulators" to ecological bootcamps, scientists and conservationists are trying ways to revive and reinforce the famous coral reefs off Japan's Okinawa, decimated by climate-driven bleaching two summers ago.

From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026

Zoo conservationists have bred 300 near-extinct tiny snails and introduced them back into the wild.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

Even if the boundaries can sometimes feel flexible, conservationists emphasize that the islands’ broader system of protections helps preserve the Galápagos’ biodiversity and the wildlife encounters that draw around 200,000 visitors annually.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

Imperial Beach couple Mike and Patricia McCoy have inspired generations of coastal conservationists.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026

Meanwhile, conservationists argue for keeping this unpopulous region as close to nature as possible.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Related Words

• environmentalist