environmentalist
noun
en·vi·ron·men·tal·ist
in-ˌvī-rə(n)-ˈmen-tə-ləst 
-ˌvī(-ə)r(n)-
plural environmentalists
: an advocate of environmentalism : a person who is focused on the preservation, restoration, and improvement of the natural environment
While dams have been touted in the name of water conservation and clean, renewable energy, environmentalists have long challenged the claim that dams are "green" technology. The deleterious ecological impacts of dams, they insist, have been profound.—
Patrick Joseph
Patrick JosephMeanwhile, environmentalists have responded that climate change and habitat loss due to development should require builders to think even more carefully about their projects.—Emma Cotton et al.
Emma Cotton et al.Examples of environmentalist in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But environmentalists and counties located the Delta call it a water grab.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025
On the left were environmentalists who wanted to leave carbon in the ground; on the right, MAGA nationalists who were dismantling wind farms and carrying out mass deportations.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
And there’s the environmentalist, who is concerned about carbon emissions and sometimes makes the case that, overall, higher gas prices are good for the planet as an incentive for people to seek and use alternative energy sources.
—Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 8 Sep. 2025
John Burton, who championed liberal causes during his 40 years in California politics as an environmentalist, tenants’ rights advocate, and defender of the working class and labor, has died.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 7 Sep. 2025
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Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025
On the left were environmentalists who wanted to leave carbon in the ground; on the right, MAGA nationalists who were dismantling wind farms and carrying out mass deportations.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
And there’s the environmentalist, who is concerned about carbon emissions and sometimes makes the case that, overall, higher gas prices are good for the planet as an incentive for people to seek and use alternative energy sources.
—Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 8 Sep. 2025
John Burton, who championed liberal causes during his 40 years in California politics as an environmentalist, tenants’ rights advocate, and defender of the working class and labor, has died.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for environmentalist
Cite this Entry
“Environmentalist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/environmentalist. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
environmentalist
noun
en·vi·ron·men·tal·ist
-ˌvī-rən-ˈment-ᵊl-əst
-ˌvī(-ə)rn-
: a person concerned about environmental quality and especially with controlling pollution
Medical Definition
environmentalist
noun
en·vi·ron·men·tal·ist
-ᵊl-əst
1
: an advocate of environmentalism
2
: one concerned about environmental quality especially of the human environment with respect to the control of pollution
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