environmentalist

[ en-vahy-ruhn-men-tl-ist, -vahy-ern- ]

noun

1. an expert on environmental problems.
2. any person who advocates or works to protect the air, water, animals, plants, and other natural resources from pollution or its effects.
3. a person who believes that differences between individuals or groups, especially in moral and intellectual attributes, are predominantly determined by environmental factors, as surroundings, upbringing, or experience ( hereditarian ).

environmentalist

/ ɪnˌvaɪrənˈmɛntəlɪst /

noun

1. an adherent of environmentalism
2. a person who is concerned with the maintenance of ecological balance and the conservation of the environment
3. a person concerned with issues that affect the environment, such as pollution

Other Words From

• en·vi·ron·men·tal·ism noun
• an·ti·en·vi·ron·men·tal·ist noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of environmentalist¹

First recorded in 1915–20; environmental ( def ) + -ist

Example Sentences

One of Kennedy’s fellow waterkeepers, Diane Wilson, 76, remembers the evolution in Kennedy’s personality as he shifted from environmentalist to conspiracy theorist and Trump supporter.

From Salon

Experts tell Salon that environmentalist politics and the politics of the far right have long intertwined, from eugenics and other pseudoscience of the early 20th century to white nationalism and fascism today.

From Salon

Despite decades of admonitions from nutritionists and environmentalists to “eat locally, think globally,” our collective diets are more international than ever.

From Science Magazine

Now, a pioneering group of Caribbean scientists and environmentalists hope to turn the tide on the problem by transforming the troublesome algae into a lucrative biofuel.

From BBC

But only one country, Finland, has actually built such a facility, while environmentalists and anti-nuclear campaigners argue that dumping waste out of sight and out of mind is simply too risky.

From BBC

Related Words

• ecologist