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. SpeerSynonyms
Examples 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
After extensive planning and community involvement, the Oceanside City Council adopted a specific plan in 2009 that outlined the creation of parks, the preservation of natural habitats, and the construction of civic, commercial and residential facilities within the property.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2025
Note these positive words: create, trust fund, preservation.
—Eli Amdur, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
Delegates will be able to explore issues from local governance and economic development to cultural preservation and best practices.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2025
Three of his films were selected for preservation by the National Film Registry, including the 1916 epic Civilization.
—Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for preservation 
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Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2025
Note these positive words: create, trust fund, preservation.
—Eli Amdur, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
Delegates will be able to explore issues from local governance and economic development to cultural preservation and best practices.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2025
Three of his films were selected for preservation by the National Film Registry, including the 1916 epic Civilization.
—Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for preservation
Dictionary Entries Near preservation
Cite this Entry
“Preservation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preservation. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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