ENGLISH
REFERENCE

preserve

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //pɹəˈzɝv// UK //pɹɪsˈɜːv// pre·serve General-service

n. an activity or area of work that is kept for only one person or group of people. You use this to describe something that feels exclusive or private.

n. a sphere of activity or interest regarded as being reserved for a particular person or group. Often used to describe social or professional domains that exclude outsiders.


SIMPLE

In the past, higher education was the preserve of the wealthy.

CONTEXTUAL

For many decades, the high-end fashion industry remained the exclusive preserve of a few elite European houses.

COMPLEX

While the technology was once the sole preserve of government agencies, it has since become ubiquitous in the private sector, fundamentally altering the landscape of digital privacy.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English preserven, from Old French preserver, from Medieval Latin prēservāre (“keep, preserve”), from Late Latin praeservāre (“guard beforehand”), from prae (“before”, adverb) + servāre (“maintain, keep”).

Usage

Usually appears in the singular form and is frequently preceded by the adjective 'exclusive' or 'sole'.

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