conservation

6 synonyms and 4 antonyms for conservation, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — The protection and careful management of nature, wildlife, or natural resources.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

protection maintenance

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

preservation

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

upkeep safeguarding stewardship

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

The protection and careful management of nature, wildlife, or natural resources.

“The charity funds conservation projects across the rainforest.”

preservation protection upkeep safeguarding maintenance stewardship

Opposites

pollution destruction neglect contamination

2. noun

The careful preservation and repair of artworks, buildings, or historical artefacts.

“The museum's conservation team restored the damaged painting.”

Opposites

destruction neglect

How to use conservation

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

wildlife conservation energy conservation conservation area conservation of mass

Etymology

From Old French, built on conserve plus -ation.

Full origin of conservation →

Frequently asked questions

What does “conservation” mean?

The word “conservation” means the protection and careful management of nature, wildlife, or natural resources. In plain terms, protecting and looking after something so it isn't lost, damaged, or used up.

How do you pronounce “conservation”?

“Conservation” is pronounced kahn-suh-VAY-shuhn (/ˌkɑnsə(ɹ)ˈveɪʃən/ in IPA).

How do you use “conservation” in a sentence?

Here is “conservation” used in a sentence: “The charity funds conservation projects across the rainforest.”

What part of speech is “conservation”?

“Conservation” is a noun.

Where does the word “conservation” come from?

The word “conservation” comes from Old French. From Old French, built on conserve plus -ation.

Is “conservation” a common word?

“Conservation” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “conservation” have?

“Conservation” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the protection and careful management of nature, wildlife, or natural resources.

What is the difference between "conservation" and "preservation"?

Conservation is the protection and careful management of nature or resources, often allowing sustainable use. Preservation usually means keeping something completely unchanged and protected from any use or interference.

What is the difference between "conservation" and "conservatism"?

Conservation refers to protecting nature, wildlife, or cultural artefacts, or to using resources carefully. Conservatism is a political and social outlook favouring tradition and gradual change; the two words are unrelated despite their similar spelling.

People also searched

protection maintenance destruction pollution preservation neglect contamination stewardship safeguarding upkeep

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of conservation