climate

noun

cli·mate ˈklī-mət

Synonyms of climate next

: a region of the earth having specified climatic conditions

His physician advised moving to a warmer climate.

: the average course or condition of the weather at a place usually over a period of years as exhibited by temperature, wind velocity, and precipitation

a healthful climate

a warm, humid climate

: the prevailing set of conditions (as of temperature and humidity) indoors

a climate-controlled office

: the prevailing influence or environmental conditions characterizing a group or period : atmosphere

a climate of fear

a climate of suspicion

the cultural climate of the 1960s

Did you know?

If you stand at the equator, the celestial poles (the points in the sky directly above the North and South poles) lie on the horizon. As you move northward, the northern celestial pole gradually rises above the horizon, so the sky is in effect tilted. The ancient Greeks called this tilt klima, literally “slope,” “inclination.” Because the angle is determined by your latitude, klima came to mean “latitude,” and the earth was divided into seven latitudinal regions, called klimata. The word came into modern European languages as clime or climate, and the weather of a region was also called climate.

Example Sentences

living in a cold climate These trees only grow in humid climates. The country's climate is ideal for growing grapes. the humid climate of Malaysia A climate of fear prevails in the city. the country's changing economic climate The company is trying to develop a positive climate for innovation. See More

Recent Examples on the Web Riikka Purra stressed that the The Finns would focus on shaping Finland's migration, climate, criminal and energy policies if the populist party become a partner in the next government. —

Jari Tanner, ajc, 2 Apr. 2023 Geotextile fabric pots are easy to use but dry out super fast in our climate. —

Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Apr. 2023 Lured here by the convergence of European internet cables, temperate climates, and an abundance of green energy, Microsoft and Google have built hyperscalers; Meta has tried and failed. —

WIRED, 30 Mar. 2023 Signed into law last year with the climate, healthcare and tax law called the Inflation Reduction Act, the tax may create complications for buyers and sellers in merger and acquisition transactions, tax advisers say. —

Jennifer Williams-alvarez, WSJ, 30 Mar. 2023 The Western oil companies with the technological skill to extract oil from the harsh Russian climate—including BP, ExxonMobil, and Shell—have all withdrawn from Russia, which will likely mean damage to Russian oil fields, pipelines, and refineries due to a lack of technical expertise. —

David Cay Johnston, The New Republic, 30 Mar. 2023 Newsletter:Your weekly guide to climate, energy and the environment America's watersheds:Where are the most toxic watersheds that harm human health and the environment? —

Camille Fine, USA TODAY, 30 Mar. 2023 The active ingredient, dimethicone 1%, protects your skin from environmental and everyday aggressors, like freezing weather, dry climates, and excessive hand-washing. —

Daley Quinn, Health, 29 Mar. 2023 Many of the analysts are focused on health policy, while others handle energy and climate, labor, macroeconomics, microeconomics, national security and taxes. —

Washington Post Staff, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'climate.' 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

Middle English climat, from Middle French, from Late Latin climat-, clima, from Greek klimat-, klima inclination, latitude, climate, from klinein to lean — more at lean

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of climate was in 1578

See more words from the same year

Articles Related to climate

On ‘Climatic’ and ‘Climactic’

One letter makes all the difference.

New Adventures in 'Cli-Fi'

Taking the temperature of a literary genre.

'Climate' Change

The evolution of the word's meaning can't be denied

Cite this Entry

Style

“Climate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/climate. Accessed 7 Apr. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

climate

noun

cli·mate ˈklī-mət

: a region with specified weather conditions

: the average weather conditions of a particular place or region over a period of years

: the usual or most widespread mood or conditions

a climate of fear

climatic

klī-ˈmat-ik

klə-

adjective

Etymology

Middle English climat "climate," from Latin climat-, clima (same meaning), from Greek klimat-, klima "slope, latitude, climate," from klinein "to lean, recline" — related to climax, clinic

Word Origin

If you stand at the equator and look up at the sky, the celestial pole (the point in the sky directly above earth's North and South Poles) lies on the horizon. As you move northward, the celestial pole gradually rises above the horizon, so that the sky is in effect tilted. This tilt or inclination was called by the ancient Greeks klima (literally, "slope," "inclination"). Because the angle of inclination is determined by your latitude on earth, klima came to mean "latitude," and the earth was divided into seven latitudinal regions, called klimata (the plural of klima). This word was borrowed into modern European languages as clime or climate, and the weather characteristic of a particular region was also called climate.