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
Through all those years, society Director Jane Nicoll has been its most ardent supporter and advocate for the preservation of this community’s history and archives.
—Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
In contrast with some other cooking and preservation methods, dehydrated items maintain their nutrients, making a food dehydrator a practical addition to a healthy kitchen and lifestyle.
—Jordan Liberty Phillips, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Apr. 2025
The Atlantic reported that the messages in the chat were set to disappear after one week for some users, raising questions about whether or not the chat complied with records preservation regulations.
—Eleanor Watson, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2025
Two-hundred communities have passed this law for a small surcharge on property taxes to fund affordable housing, historic preservation, open space preservation, and parks.
—Lewis Finfer, Boston Herald, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preservation
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Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
In contrast with some other cooking and preservation methods, dehydrated items maintain their nutrients, making a food dehydrator a practical addition to a healthy kitchen and lifestyle.
—Jordan Liberty Phillips, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Apr. 2025
The Atlantic reported that the messages in the chat were set to disappear after one week for some users, raising questions about whether or not the chat complied with records preservation regulations.
—Eleanor Watson, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2025
Two-hundred communities have passed this law for a small surcharge on property taxes to fund affordable housing, historic preservation, open space preservation, and parks.
—Lewis Finfer, Boston Herald, 2 Apr. 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 12 Apr. 2025.
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