climate

noun

cli·​mate ˈklī-mət 

1

: a region of the earth having specified climatic conditions

His physician advised moving to a warmer climate.

2

a

: 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

b

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

a climate-controlled office

3

: 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.

Synonyms

• atmosphere
• aura
• air
• aroma

Examples of climate in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

And although the show avoids preachy comparisons between its well-off, white climate refugees and their less privileged present-day counterparts, there’s plenty to notice about the international community’s indifference to the plight of the stateless. —Judy Berman, Time, 27 June 2025

This reality has sparked legitimate concerns about AI undermining climate progress. —Tenzin Seldon, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025

In a climate rife with conspiracy theories and baseless (and sometimes dangerous) social media trends, the line between true and false, substantiated and shady, can seem increasingly blurry—at least on the surface. —Caroline Tien, SELF, 26 June 2025

Undocumented labor has also been used to restore cities in the wake of climate disasters, as reported by Sarah Stillman. —Literary Hub, 26 June 2025

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

Phrases Containing climate

• climate change
• climate change denial
• climate change denier
• climate-controlled
• climate denial
• climate denier

Rhymes for climate

• microclimate
• sublimate

Kids Definition

climate

noun

cli·​mate ˈklī-mət 

1

a

: a region with specified weather conditions

b

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

2

: 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.