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
Cruise lines are doing work on sustainability, environmentalism, and impact on the wider world.
—Lea Lane, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Yet the Blue Origin flight is a good reminder that there is no feminism without environmentalism.
—Sheetal Khedkar Rao, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
Issues like gender equality, racial justice and environmentalism remain central, but the rhetoric surrounding men has often become antagonistic.
—Nafees Alam, Boston Herald, 19 May 2025
The Phoenician Scheme tethers the filmmaker’s existential interests (the unfettered power of the billionaire class, unchecked greed and environmentalism) to the kind of poignant humanistic narrative that’s been missing from his latest offerings.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for environmentalism
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Lea Lane, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Yet the Blue Origin flight is a good reminder that there is no feminism without environmentalism.
—Sheetal Khedkar Rao, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
Issues like gender equality, racial justice and environmentalism remain central, but the rhetoric surrounding men has often become antagonistic.
—Nafees Alam, Boston Herald, 19 May 2025
The Phoenician Scheme tethers the filmmaker’s existential interests (the unfettered power of the billionaire class, unchecked greed and environmentalism) to the kind of poignant humanistic narrative that’s been missing from his latest offerings.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 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 6 Jun. 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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