biodiversity

noun

bio·​di·​ver·​si·​ty ˌbī-(ˌ)ō-də-ˈvər-sə-tē 

-dī-

: biological diversity in an environment as indicated by numbers of different species of plants and animals

biodiverse

ˌbī-(ˌ)ō-dī-ˈvərs 

-də-

adjective

Did you know?

Biodiversity may become the rallying call for the next decade, wrote David Wake in the journal Science in 1989. Indeed, biodiversity is a word you're likely to encounter in writing about ecology and the environment today. But when Wake used it, "biodiversity" was still a relatively new addition to the English language, having first appeared in writing in the mid-1980s. Of course, the roots of biodiversity are much older. It evolved from a commingling of the descendants of the Greek noun bios, which means "mode of life," and the Latin verb divertere, which means "to turn aside" or "to go different ways."

Examples of biodiversity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Dedicated teams, including Gamuda Parks and sustainability specialists, oversee biodiversity management and long-term conservation planning across the group. — Gamuda Contributor, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

These pristine epicenters of biodiversity are teeming with life, from thriving coral reefs to sharks and seabird colonies. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 4 Aug. 2026

Turfgrass is also significantly lower in biodiversity, particularly of pollinators and bird species. — Daniel Kramer, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026

As traditional farming wanes, biodiversity tends to decrease—and wildfires tend to intensify. — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

bio- + diversity

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for biodiversity

• university
• adversity
• diversity
• perversity
• polydispersity

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Kids Definition

biodiversity

noun

bio·​di·​ver·​si·​ty -də-ˈvər-sət-ē 

-dī-

: biological variety in an environment as indicated by numbers of different species of plants and animals