biophilia
noun
E. O. WilsonT. H. Watkins
Did you know?
The term "biophilia" was popularized by psychoanalyst Erich Fromm in the 1960s. In his work, he used the word (from bio-, meaning "life," and -philia, meaning "friendly feeling toward") to describe the biological drive toward self-preservation. In the late 1970s, American biologist Edward O. Wilson extended the word's meaning, seeing it as the perfect word for "the rich, natural pleasure that comes from being surrounded by living organisms." Recently, "biophilia" has been in the news as the title of Icelandic singer Björk's latest project, a multimedia production that (according to the website for the Manchester International Festival) "celebrates how sound works in nature, exploring the infinite expanse of the universe, from planetary systems to atomic structure."
Examples of biophilia in a Sentence
Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Often referred to as biophilia, this connection is vital for our health.
—Danielle Bauter, Oc Register, 4 Aug. 2025
These benefits have made biophilia an emerging trend in workplace design, with companies like Apple and Google implementing plant-rich environments and other biophilic features.
—Aki Soudunsaari, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2022
Humans also have an innate instinct to connect with nature, known as biophilia.
—Erica Sweeney, Good Housekeeping, 29 July 2022
The concept comes from the term biophilia, which refers to the human tendency to interact with other forms of life.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Jan. 2022
Ulrich believes the answer lies in what’s known as the biophilia hypothesis.
—Emily Anthes, Discover Magazine, 18 Aug. 2020
The design will include elements of biophilia: a green wall, draping plants and a network of custom planters throughout the property.
—Nancy Sarnoff, Houston Chronicle, 10 Feb. 2020
Spaces need to have a sense of biophilia, where the natural world is reflected within the classroom.
—Kate McGregor, ELLE Decor, 23 Oct. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Biophilia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biophilia. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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