habitable

adjective

hab·​it·​able ˈha-bə-tə-bəl 

 also  hə-ˈbi-tə-

: capable of being lived in : suitable for habitation

habitability

ˌha-bə-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

habitableness

ˈha-bə-tə-bəl-nes 

noun

habitably

ˈha-bə-tə-blē 

 also  hə-ˈbi-tə-

adverb

Synonyms

• inhabitable

Examples of habitable in a Sentence

The house is not habitable.

the frigid Arctic is not habitable for amphibians and reptiles—or for humans, either, for that matter

Recent Examples on the Web

But the past few decades in Nepal have seen rapid development, and life in inhabitable landscapes were becoming more habitable, for better or for worse. —Kate McMahon, AFAR Media, 13 Aug. 2025

The world receives roughly the same amount of stellar energy as Earth, placing it in the star's habitable zone — a range of distances where liquid water could exist under suitable atmospheric conditions, according to a statement from the university. —Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 24 July 2025

But the villagers broke a sacred taboo by killing hummingbirds, which carried the spirits of their ancestors, and for this offense, their homes were swallowed by a lake of black pitch, never again to be habitable. —Ian Rose, JSTOR Daily, 23 July 2025

Those results could quickly change the hunt for habitable planets. —Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 16 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for habitable

• uninhabitable

Kids Definition

habitable

adjective

hab·​it·​able ˈhab-ət-ə-bəl 

: suitable or fit to live in

a habitable cave

habitability

ˌhab-ət-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

Legal Definition

habitable

adjective

hab·​it·​able ˈha-bi-tə-bəl 

: suitable and fit for a person to live in : free of defects that endanger the health and safety of occupants see also warranty of habitability at warranty

habitability

ˌha-bi-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

habitableness noun

habitably adverb