preserved
Americanadjective
-
(of food or any perishable substance) prepared by canning, pickling, salting, or the like, or treated by some process to prevent decomposition or fermentation.
I had never had such fresh-tasting preserved fruit before.
-
kept safe from harm or injury; protected or spared.
This is a wonderfully preserved example of Mayan cave art.
-
kept up or maintained; kept in good condition or health.
Tucked in Amsterdam’s inner city is a uniquely preserved 17th-century house from the Dutch Golden Age.
-
kept alive or in existence.
When I take a portrait photograph, I’m capturing a moment in a life, making it a preserved memory.
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(of game or fish, natural habitats, etc.) maintained or reserved for continued hunting or fishing, or for private or public use and appreciation.
New walking trails will be built through the preserved areas of parkland.
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of preserved
First recorded in 1550–60; preserve ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. ) for the adjective senses; preserve ( def. ) + -ed 1 ( def. ) for the verb sense
Explanation
Something that's preserved is kept in its original state or kept alive and fresh. Preserved artifacts are protected from damage, often in a museum where they can be kept safe. Preserved food is treated in some way that makes it spoil much more slowly than it would otherwise. Sometimes this is done by adding chemical preservatives, and other times it's a more natural process, involving drying, pickling, salting, or canning. Preserved fruit, cooked with sugar and sealed in jars, is also called preserves. These words all stem from the Medieval Latin preservare, "keep safe."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Having access to a preserved specimen had also meant an opportunity to examine authentic animal hair in a controlled and ethical way, he said, without needing to disturb a live animal.
From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026
Mao's face is printed on banknotes, his portrait overlooks Tiananmen Square, and his body is preserved in a mausoleum.
From Barron's ● Sep. 6, 2026
The parcel will be preserved for recreational use, but specific plans won’t be decided until it’s donated to a public agency, according to Robert Moddelmog, who serves as Enforcement Counsel for the Coastal Commission.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
BORDEAUX, France—For 700 years, Château Carbonnieux relied on rainwater to nourish its grapes, a tradition that preserved the vineyard’s connection to the local terroir.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
To them, the earth is something to be respected and preserved, but dirt gets no respect.
From "The View From Saturday" by E.L. Konigsburg
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
