abiotic

adjective

abi·​ot·​ic ˌā-(ˌ)bī-ˈä-tik 

: not biotic : abiological

the abiotic environment

abiotically

ˌā-(ˌ)bī-ˈä-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of abiotic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And yet, every clue has an abiotic escape hatch. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025

Plant issues are usually caused by either abiotic or biotic stressors. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026

This change in pH is as drastic a change in the environment as temperature or any other abiotic factor. — Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025

So far, the rovers on Mars have found some organic molecules and chemical signatures that could have come from either abiotic − nonliving − sources or past life. — Elisabeth M. Hausrath, The Conversation, 6 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

a- entry 2 + biotic

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for abiotic

• aprotic
• aquatic
• biotic
• chaotic
• cirrhotic
• demotic
• despotic
• dichotic
• erotic
• euphotic
• exotic
• fibrotic

Kids Definition

abiotic

adjective

abi·​ot·​ic ˌā-bī-ˈät-ik 

: not living or composed of living things

water and rock are abiotic

Medical Definition

abiotic

adjective

abi·​ot·​ic ˌā-(ˌ)bi-ˈät-ik 

: not biotic : abiological

the abiotic environment

abiotically

-i-k(ə-)le 

adverb