abiotic

adjective

abi·​ot·​ic ˌā-(ˌ)bī-ˈä-tik How to pronounce abiotic (audio)
: not biotic : abiological
the abiotic environment

Examples of abiotic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Further experiments showed that the same tiny formations can be the result of geologic—completely abiotic—processes. Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 1 June 2026 However, Klenner is part of a team led by Gideon Yoffe of the Weizmann Institute in Israel that showed there may be a way to distinguish between biological and abiotic origins. Keith Cooper, Space.com, 14 May 2026 Plant issues are usually caused by either abiotic or biotic stressors. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026 There are plenty of inorganic/abiotic pathways to produce oxygen under laboratory conditions, and these could be at play on an exoplanet. Big Think, 17 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for abiotic

Word History

Etymology

a- entry 2 + biotic

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of abiotic was in 1870

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Abiotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abiotic. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

abiotic

adjective
abi·​ot·​ic ˌā-bī-ˈät-ik How to pronounce abiotic (audio)
: not living or composed of living things
water and rock are abiotic

Medical Definition

abiotic

adjective
abi·​ot·​ic ˌā-(ˌ)bi-ˈät-ik How to pronounce abiotic (audio)
: not biotic : abiological
the abiotic environment
abiotically adverb

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