preservation

noun

pres·​er·​va·​tion ˌpre-zər-ˈvā-shən How to pronounce preservation (audio)
Synonyms of preservationnext
: the act, process, or result of preserving something: such as
a
: the activity or process of keeping something valued alive, intact, or free from damage or decay
preservation of state parks/monuments
preservation of an old tradition
The special emphasis of recent years on preservation continued in 1988. More than 8,000 brittle volumes (1.5 million pages) were committed to microfilm; an additional 777 rare books, manuscripts, and historical films received special conservation treatment.—Library and Book Trade Almanac
These and so many lesser red flags seem finally to be shifting public interest toward the preservation of wildlife and natural habitats.—E. Annie Proulx
b
: the preparation of food for future use (as by canning, pickling, or freezing) to prevent spoilage
the use of salt in the preservation of meat
In the years following the first Earth Day in 1970, a contingent of Americans insisted on developing pesticide-free systems of farming and anti-chemical methods of food preservation and preparation.—Tibbett L. Speer

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of preservation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web His great-grandfather, James Henry Comley, a pioneering horticulturist and author, influenced Comley's early passion for preservation. —Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024 The brand’s broad spectrum CBD products stand out from competitors in two distinct ways – preservation of terpenes and its proprietary extraction and purification process. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024 However, the Spanish colonial-style property has since been spared and is being considered for historic preservation. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2024 The law requires that any such presidential correspondence be forwarded to an official account for preservation. —Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024 Indiana Landmarks, a local nonprofit which advocates the preservation of historic sites throughout the state, has been monitoring the Holy Cross situation. —Jade Thomas, The Indianapolis Star, 29 Mar. 2024 His presidency was marked by the preservation of the Union, the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation, and his memorable speeches, including the Gettysburg Address. —Lance Eliot, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024 The nonprofits also moved beyond preservation to become developers of homeless housing. —Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024 Despite applying for historic preservation grants, the congregation couldn’t afford all the repairs the building needed. —Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'preservation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of preservation was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing preservation

Dictionary Entries Near preservation

preserval

preservation

preservationist

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Preservation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preservation. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

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Kids Definition

preservation

noun
pres·​er·​va·​tion
ˌprez-ər-ˈvā-shən
: a keeping from injury, loss, or decay

More from Merriam-Webster on preservation

Nglish: Translation of preservation for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of preservation for Arabic Speakers

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