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
Although the North Aegean’s dynamic environment and geology creates less-than-ideal preservation conditions, the team still discovered evidence of numerous stone tools from multiple Paleolithic periods.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 18 Sep. 2025
Talking about fertility preservation early is important.
—Julie Scott, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2025
Grants will support cultural exchanges through art and film, mentorship and training programs, fellowships for higher education film schools, investigative journalism and free speech initiatives, film restoration and preservation and uplifting underserved communities and more.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
Safe Harbor IRAs prioritize capital preservation over growth, locking funds in low-yield investments that fail to keep pace with inflation.
—Brian Menickella, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preservation
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Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 18 Sep. 2025
Talking about fertility preservation early is important.
—Julie Scott, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2025
Grants will support cultural exchanges through art and film, mentorship and training programs, fellowships for higher education film schools, investigative journalism and free speech initiatives, film restoration and preservation and uplifting underserved communities and more.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
Safe Harbor IRAs prioritize capital preservation over growth, locking funds in low-yield investments that fail to keep pace with inflation.
—Brian Menickella, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 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 24 Sep. 2025.
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