English Reference
Noun

environmentalist

n.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ɪnˌvaɪɹənˈmɛnəɫɪst/ UK /ɛnvˌaɪɹənmˈɛntəlˌɪst/ en·vi·ron·men·tal·ist UK spelling environmentalists Anthropology

n.a person who is very concerned about protecting the natural world and stopping pollution. They often work to make sure that nature is not harmed by human activities.

n.a person who advocates for the protection of the natural environment and the prevention of pollution. Often associated with political activism or scientific research regarding ecological sustainability.


SIMPLE

The environmentalist spoke at the local town hall meeting.

CONTEXTUAL

As an environmentalist, she spends her weekends cleaning up the local beach to protect the marine life.

COMPLEX

The environmentalist argued that the proposed highway would irreversibly damage the fragile wetlands, leading to a significant loss of biodiversity in the region.

Environmentalists have heavily criticised the exploratory drilling in the sea off the mouth of the Amazon.

BBC News· 18 Aug 2026

The project has already led to legal challenges and pushback from the opposition Congress party and environmentalists.

The Guardian· 25 Aug 2026

From environmental + -ist.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated