preservation
noun
pres·er·va·tion
ˌpre-zər-ˈvā-shən 
: 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
Library and Book Trade AlmanacThese and so many lesser red flags seem finally to be shifting public interest toward the preservation of wildlife and natural habitats.—E. Annie Proulx
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
Tibbett L. SpeerExamples of preservation in a Sentence
each curator is responsible for the preservation of the works of art within his or her department
the preservation of the tropical rainforests is a global responsibility
Recent Examples on the Web
In 2008, the county started working with the Alexander Company, a Wisconsin developer with a history of historic preservation and adaptive reuse.
—Celia Fernandez, CNBC, 19 Apr. 2025
The post-pandemic era calls for a balanced approach, prioritizing capital preservation alongside the pursuit of sustainable returns.
—Gianluca Sidoti, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
And the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Surf City is a great place to learn about the island's preservation and conservation initiatives.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2025
The Hollywood Reporter notes that the BFI copy has been stored for all this time at a temperature of 23 degrees Fahrenheit for preservation purposes.
—Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preservation
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Celia Fernandez, CNBC, 19 Apr. 2025
The post-pandemic era calls for a balanced approach, prioritizing capital preservation alongside the pursuit of sustainable returns.
—Gianluca Sidoti, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
And the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Surf City is a great place to learn about the island's preservation and conservation initiatives.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2025
The Hollywood Reporter notes that the BFI copy has been stored for all this time at a temperature of 23 degrees Fahrenheit for preservation purposes.
—Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preservation
Cite this Entry
“Preservation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preservation. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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