microclimate

noun

mi·​cro·​cli·​mate ˈmī-krō-ˌklī-mət 

: the essentially uniform local climate of a usually small site or habitat

microclimatic

ˌmī-krō-klī-ˈma-tik 

adjective

Did you know?

The microclimate of an industrial park may be quite different from that of a nearby wooded park, since the plants absorb light and heat while asphalt parking lots and rooftops radiate them back into the air. A microclimate can offer a small growing area for crops that wouldn't do well in the wider region, so skilled gardeners take advantage of microclimates by carefully choosing and positioning their plants. San Francisco's hills, oceanfront, and bay shore, along with its alternating areas of concrete and greenery, make it a city of microclimates.

Examples of microclimate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Today’s elite are going to extraordinary lengths to manipulate their microclimates, from morphing mansions to underground snow rooms. — Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 15 July 2026

This stretch of the Leelanau Peninsula sits at the 45th parallel, a microclimate that shares characteristics with prominent Old World wine-growing regions like France’s Bordeaux and Italy’s Piedmont. — Stacy Conde, Midwest Living, 9 July 2026

Nestled in the shadow of Jeju Island’s signature Hallasan, a dormant volcano and South Korea’s highest mountain peak, the plot of land that makes up Wild Orchard Farmstead experiences its own microclimate. — Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

These unfortunately had the effect of creating a microclimate, preventing air circulation and allowing moisture to stagnate. — News Desk, Artforum, 29 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for microclimate

• climate
• sublimate