conservationist

noun

con·​ser·​va·​tion·​ist ˌkän(t)-sər-ˈvā-sh(ə-)nist How to pronounce conservationist (audio)
: a person who advocates conservation especially of natural resources

Examples of conservationist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The cottonwoods have provided people a shady gathering place for generations, conservationists say. — Michael Loria, USA Today, 30 July 2026 In 2020, Homero Gómez González, a prominent conservationist at the Biosphere Reserve, was found dead in Ocampo, the closest municipality to the sanctuary. — Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026 The designation is a first for Georgia and a huge win for dedicated conservationists, scientists, government officials, nonprofits and swamp neighbors who have spent more than four decades advocating for our wetland wonder. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 27 July 2026 During this time, bogs, marshes, and other wetlands, historically seen as disease-ridden and deleterious to human health, were reevaluated by scientists and conservationists as valuable wildlife habitats. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for conservationist

Word History

Etymology

conservation + -ist entry 1

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of conservationist was in 1870

Rhymes for conservationist

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Browse Nearby Words

conservation area
conservationist
conservation of angular momentum
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Cite this Entry

“Conservationist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conservationist. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

conservationist

noun
con·​ser·​va·​tion·​ist ˌkän(t)-sər-ˈvā-sh(ə-)nəst How to pronounce conservationist (audio)
: a person who is in favor of conservation especially of natural resources (as forests)

More from Merriam-Webster on conservationist

Nglish: Translation of conservationist for Spanish Speakers

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