preservation

noun

pres·​er·​va·​tion ˌpre-zər-ˈvā-shən How to pronounce preservation (audio)
: 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

Examples of preservation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The president wants to fund the building and preservation of 2 million housing units — a meaningful sum, but not enough to solve the shortage. Josh Boak, Fortune, 15 Mar. 2024 Ancillary revenue generators helped spur the development of a cottage industry of smaller preservation services. Brent Simon, Variety, 14 Mar. 2024 The company has also announced sustainability targets that include using 100 percent renewable energy at sites and stores by 2026 via the LIFE 360 program—not to mention the preservation of 12.4 million acres of habitat for flora and fauna worldwide by 2030. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2024 Enacted in the years following the Watergate scandal -- when lawmakers feared President Richard Nixon might destroy records upon leaving office -- the 1978 Presidential Records Act governs the ownership and preservation of presidential records. Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2024 Both this sense of community and the preservation of trees were part of New Mark Commons’ plan from the beginning. Barbara Ruben, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 The Grand Egyptian Museum, located in Giza, is already planning to use the new preservation technique to protect ancient papyri. Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2024 Across numerous sessions, attendees learned everything from how to teach the history of Black joy and resistance to how the University of Florida is dealing with DeSantis’ policies to the importance of Black historical preservation. C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2024 The film, written and directed by Michael Fiore, delves into everything from the relationship between fathers and sons, and the preservation of a culture, to the pressure of running a restaurant, and the undeniable strength of a community upended by war. Kristin L. Wolfe, Forbes, 24 Feb. 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

Dictionary Entries Near preservation

Cite this Entry

“Preservation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preservation. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

preservation

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

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