least concern

American  

[leest kuhn-surn] / ˈlist kənˈsɜrn /

adjective

Biology, Ecology.

1. (of a plant or animal species) assessed to be thriving, with a distribution or population status that is neither threatened nor near threatened, as categorized by the IUCN Red List: LC

   Among the least concern birds on our favorite watches are the sandhill cranes and the pied-billed grebes.

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Etymology

Origin of least concern

First recorded in 1995–2000

Example Sentences

The authors also considered threat levels -- for example "threatened," "endangered" or "least concern," -- for 163,000 species as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

From Science Daily • Oct. 27, 2025

The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies them as a species of least concern, meaning that they are not threatened or in need of conservation efforts.

From New York Times • May 25, 2023

Australia's saltwater crocodile, the world's largest reptile, is listed in the category of "least concern" about extinction.

From Reuters • Apr. 27, 2022

This is not to be confused with the list of coronavirus-killing disinfectants; this list is just for cleaners that have been tested by the EPA and pose the least concern among chemicals in their class.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 24, 2020

His greatest reservation was a worry about the loud noise which the fall must create and which presumably would arouse, if not fright, then at least concern on the other side of all the doors.

From "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka