English Reference
noun

preservation

n.
US /ˌpɹɛzɝˈveɪʃən/ UK /pɹɪsəvˈeɪʃən/ preser·va·tion UK spelling preservations

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the act of keeping something safe from damage, decay, or being destroyed.

    the act of maintaining or protecting something to prevent its destruction or deterioration. Often used in environmental or historical contexts.

    Simple

    The preservation of old buildings is important for the city's history.

    In context

    The society is dedicated to the preservation of local wetlands, ensuring that the delicate ecosystem remains undisturbed by urban development.

    Usage

    Often followed by the preposition 'of'.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Formal

    the condition of something that has lasted for a long time.

    the state or quality of being preserved; the condition in which an object has survived.

    Simple

    The ancient book was in excellent preservation despite its age.

    In context

    Archaeologists were astonished by the state of preservation of the wooden tools found deep within the peat bog.

    Usage

    Commonly used in the phrase 'state of preservation'.

A federal appeals court says above-ground construction cannot continue without approval from Congress, siding with historic preservation advocates.

NPR· 7 Aug 2026

A council packed with Trump appointees wants to rewrite historic preservation rules.

NPR· 23 Jul 2026

From Old French preservacion, from Medieval Latin preservatio. Morphologically preserve + -ation.

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

This entry
Origin la-med preservatio
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Common
Updated