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 Organic carbon can be abiotic – that is, unrelated to a living organism. Amy J. Williams, Discover Magazine, 16 Mar. 2024 Identifying abiotic reactions in nature could inform future lab experiments testing prebiotic chemistry, where researchers can tweak the conditions to more closely simulate early Earth or other worlds, Barge explained. Quanta Magazine, 4 Jan. 2024 As more continues to be demystified about biological and abiotic ice nucleators, they could eventually be used for more efficient methods of freezing food, making snow, creating clouds, and possibly the cryogenic freezing of human cells, which was recently successful. Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 7 Dec. 2023 Yet all of these can come from abiotic sources, such as ozone from water vapor in the atmosphere, or sulfides from volcanoes. WIRED, 2 Oct. 2023 The discovery uncovers a chicken and egg conundrum: which came first, abiotic methane or the microbes? Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2019 This type of stress is called abiotic stress and results from unmet plant needs, usually too much or too little of something. Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Apr. 2023 As always, though, there are totally abiotic pathways that could create these molecules as well. Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 27 June 2018 The biotic and abiotic elements that render Socotra so unique have existed and evolved there for millions of years, many remaining effectively unchanged in this time. Vogue, 17 Feb. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'abiotic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near abiotic

Cite this Entry

“Abiotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abiotic. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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 soil 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

More from Merriam-Webster on abiotic

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