'conservationism' originates from the noun 'conservation' plus the suffix '-ism' in English; 'conservation' ultimately comes from Latin 'conservare,' where 'con-' meant 'with/together' and 'servare' meant 'to keep or guard'.

'conservare' (Latin) gave rise to Medieval/Old French forms such as 'conservation' and entered Middle English as 'conservation'; the modern English noun 'conservationism' was formed later by adding the English suffix '-ism' to denote a doctrine or movement.

Initially the root meant 'to keep or guard'; over time the sense broadened to denote the action or practice of keeping/preserving and eventually the organized ideology or movement of 'conservationism' as used today.