Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A U.S. government agency: The National Park Service is a specific federal bureau within the United States Department of the Interior. Its primary mission is to manage and preserve the country's national parks and many other protected historical and natural sites for public enjoyment and conservation.

Usage

• The term National Park Service is used as the official name of the agency. It is always capitalized.
• It is commonly abbreviated as NPS.

Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The National Park Service maintains trails and visitor centers in Yellowstone.
  • We got our park map from a ranger working for the National Park Service.
  • The National Park Service celebrated its centennial in 2016.

Advanced Usage

• "under the auspices of the National Park Service": managed or protected by the NPS.
  • The historic battlefield is preserved under the auspices of the National Park Service.

Variants and Related Words

• NPS: The standard initialism for the National Park Service.
  • Check the NPS website for alerts about park conditions.
• Park ranger: An employee of the National Park Service.
  • A park ranger from the National Park Service gave a talk about local wildlife.
• National park: A major type of area managed by this agency. (Note: This is a related term, not a variant of the agency name itself).
  • The National Park Service oversees over 400 units, including national parks, monuments, and seashores.

Synonyms

• Federal conservation agency: A general descriptive term.
• Public lands agency: A broad term for a government body managing public territories.

Related Phrases

• To be managed by the National Park Service: Describes the stewardship of a place.
  • The national monument is managed by the National Park Service.
• National Park Service policy: Refers to the official rules and guidelines set by the agency.
  • According to National Park Service policy, drones are not allowed in the park.

Noun

1. an agency of the Interior Department responsible for the national parks