preserve

Preserve is a verb meaning to keep something in its original or undamaged condition, to protect it from decay or harm, or to maintain it for future use. It can also function as a noun, referring to a fruit spread such as a fruit preserve, or to a designated area set aside for protection, such as a nature preserve.

The term derives from Latin praeservare, meaning “to preserve, guard beforehand,” via Old French préserver and Middle English. In everyday language, preserve implies safeguarding against loss or deterioration, and can be used in contexts ranging from personal belongings to public heritage.

Uses and contexts. Food preservation aims to slow spoilage and extend edibility through methods such as canning, freezing, drying, pickling, sugaring, and fermentation. Environmental and cultural preservation seeks to protect ecosystems, historic buildings, artifacts, languages, and traditional practices from decline. The noun form is common in phrases like nature preserve or wildlife preserve, which denote areas managed for protection and public access.

Legal and ethical dimensions. In law, preservation refers to retaining evidence and information relevant to potential litigation or investigations, a practice often called preservation of evidence or legal hold. In ethics and public policy, preservation ethics emphasize maintaining integrity and minimizing intrusion into the resources being protected, rather than exploiting them.

Related terms. Preservation is sometimes distinguished from conservation, where preservation aims to maintain a resource in a largely unchanged state, while conservation may permit sustainable use. Related concepts include preservative, a substance added to foods to retard spoilage, and preservationist movements that advocate protecting cultural and natural resources.