environmentalism
noun
en·vi·ron·men·tal·ism
in-ˌvī-rə(n)-ˈmen-tə-ˌli-zəm 
-ˌvī(-ə)r(n)-
1
: a political and social movement focused on the preservation, restoration, and improvement of the natural environment
I urge the community to renew our commitment to environmentalism by focusing on the defining issue of our generation: global warming.—
Dan Wolk
Dan WolkShe had embraced environmentalism as a college student, then worked with various NGOs to reduce China's air and water pollution …—Lin Yang
Lin YangHere in the heavy industry heartland of Colombia, environmentalism has old roots and has endured through decades of violence and intimidation.—Fatima Garcia Elena
Fatima Garcia Elena2
dated
: a theory that views environment rather than heredity as the important factor in the development and especially the cultural and intellectual development of an individual or group
… an extreme environmentalism developed in psychology and anthropology which minimized, if not denied altogether, any genetic contribution to the differences among human individuals.—Ernst Mayr
Ernst MayrExamples of environmentalism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The ideologies of antifa adherents are based on various left-wing causes, including communism, anarchism and socialism, while many also support environmentalism, the rights of indigenous populations and LGBTQ+ rights.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Remembering Robert Redford Robert Redford, the legendary leading man with boyish good looks and charm who used his star power to advocate for independent filmmaking, environmentalism and LGBTQ rights, has died at age 89.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
He was known for his boyish good looks and charm, advocating for independent filmmaking, environmentalism and LGBTQ rights.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 Sep. 2025
Robert Redford, who charmed people on the big screen and eventually used his star power to advocate for independent filmmaking, environmentalism and LGBTQ rights, has died at age 89.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Sep. 2025
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Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Remembering Robert Redford Robert Redford, the legendary leading man with boyish good looks and charm who used his star power to advocate for independent filmmaking, environmentalism and LGBTQ rights, has died at age 89.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
He was known for his boyish good looks and charm, advocating for independent filmmaking, environmentalism and LGBTQ rights.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 Sep. 2025
Robert Redford, who charmed people on the big screen and eventually used his star power to advocate for independent filmmaking, environmentalism and LGBTQ rights, has died at age 89.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for environmentalism
Cite this Entry
“Environmentalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/environmentalism. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
environmentalism
noun
en·vi·ron·men·tal·ism
-ˌvī-rən-ˈment-ᵊl-ˌi-zəm
-ˌvī(-ə)rn-
: the act or process of preserving, restoring, or improving the natural environment
Medical Definition
environmentalism
noun
en·vi·ron·men·tal·ism
-ˌvī-rən-ˈment-ᵊl-ˌiz-əm, -ˌvī(-ə)rn-
: a theory that views environment rather than heredity as the important factor in the development and especially the cultural and intellectual development of an individual or group
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