environment

noun

en·​vi·​ron·​ment in-ˈvī-rə(n)-mənt  -ˈvī(-ə)r(n)- 

plural environments

1

: the circumstances, objects, or conditions by which one is surrounded : the factors and influences that affect the growth, health, progress, functioning, etc., of someone or something

the home/school/office environment

a safe/supportive environment for children

in today's competitive business environment

plants grown in a controlled environment

an environment conducive to learning

Plenty of corner-office occupants want employees to return to the office, the environment in which they built their careers …

—The Economist

2

the environment : the natural world : the complex of physical, chemical, and biotic elements that exist in nature

Commonly, the environment is considered to consist of the atmosphere, water (lakes, dams, streams, oceans, etc.), soils, sediments, suspended sediments and biota.

—Des W. Connell

… his devotion to "the environment" is unwavering. He refuses, for instance, to serve commercially bottled water, citing the obscene waste of fuel necessary to ship it from the Continent and the sheer excess of all that glass and plastic.

—Joe Dolce

3

: the position or characteristic position of a linguistic element in a sequence

the phonetic environment of a speech sound

4

: a computer interface from which various tasks can be performed

a programming environment

environmental

in-ˌvī-rə(n)-ˈmen-tᵊl 

-ˌvī(-ə)r(n)-

adjective

environmental quality

environmental groups

environmentally

in-ˌvī-rə(n)-ˈmen-tᵊl-ē 

-ˌvī(-ə)r(n)-

adverb

an environmentally sensitive wetland

products marked as environmentally friendly

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Meanings of Environment

Descending from the Middle French preposition environ “around,” environment , in its most basic meaning, is “that which surrounds.” When preceded by the and unmodified, it usually refers to the natural world (“please don’t litter if you care about the environment”). In a less physical, more extended sense, it may signify the circumstances and conditions that make up everyday life (“He grew up in a loving environment.”) The word may also be applied in highly specialized ways, denoting, for example, “the position of a linguistic element” (“how g gets pronounced in Italian depends upon its phonetic environment”) or “a computer interface from which various tasks can be performed” (“the app works in varied environments").

Synonyms

• ambient
• atmosphere
• climate
• clime
• context
• contexture
• environs
• medium
• milieu
• mise-en-scène
• setting
• surround
• surroundings
• terrain

Choose the Right Synonym for environment

background, setting, environment, milieu, mise-en-scène mean the place, time, and circumstances in which something occurs.

background often refers to the circumstances or events that precede a phenomenon or development.

the shocking decision was part of the background of the riots

setting suggests looking at real-life situations in literary or dramatic terms.

a militant reformer who was born into an unlikely social setting

environment applies to all the external factors that have a formative influence on one's physical, mental, or moral development.

the kind of environment that produces juvenile delinquents

milieu applies especially to the physical and social surroundings of a person or group of persons.

an intellectual milieu conducive to artistic experimentation

mise-en-scène strongly suggests the use of properties to achieve a particular atmosphere or theatrical effect.

a gothic thriller with a carefully crafted mise-en-scène

Examples of environment in a Sentence

He grew up in a loving environment.

We're trying to create a better business environment.

These animals were raised in a controlled environment.

Many plants are unable to survive in such a harsh environment.

Heredity and environment are both important.

Pollution is bad for the environment.

Recent Examples on the Web

Trees provide numerous benefits to the environment and to health, like filtering out air pollution, storing carbon dioxide and taking water into their root systems to reduce flooding. —Madeline Heim, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025

India’s natural environment still has a fighting chance, if only more people pay attention to the local knowledge brimming in this book. —Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025

As the climate continues to change, one study found 87% of rivers studied in America and Europe are warming - 70% are losing oxygen, which is threatening fish and the environment and economies that revolve around them. —CBS News, 22 Apr. 2025

Some religious leaders, like Pope Francis, have made the environment a central focus and have called for action on climate change. —Catrin Einhorn, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1725, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for environment

• microenvironment

Kids Definition

environment

noun

en·​vi·​ron·​ment in-ˈvī-rən-mənt  -ˈvī(-ə)rn- 

1

: surroundings

living in a rural environment

2

: the surrounding conditions or forces that influence or modify: as

a

: the whole complex of factors (as soil, climate, and living things) that influence the form and the ability to survive of a plant or animal or ecological community

b

: the social and cultural conditions that influence a person or human community

a safe home environment

environmental

-ˌvī-rən-ˈment-ᵊl 

-ˌvī(-ə)rn-

adjective

environmentally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

Medical Definition

environment

noun

en·​vi·​ron·​ment in-ˈvī-rən-mənt  -ˈvī(-ə)rn- 

1

: the complex of physical, chemical, and biotic factors (as climate, soil, and living things) that act upon an organism or an ecological community and ultimately determine its form and survival

2

: the aggregate of social and cultural conditions that influence the life of an individual or community

environmental

-ˌvī-rən-ˈment-ᵊl, -ˌvī(-ə)rn- 

adjective

environmentally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb