Definition of environment
1 : the circumstances, objects, or conditions by which one is surrounded
2a : the complex of physical, chemical, and biotic factors (such as climate, soil, and living things) that act upon an organism or an ecological community and ultimately determine its form and survivalb : the aggregate of social and cultural conditions that influence the life of an individual or community
3 : the position or characteristic position of a linguistic element in a sequence
4 : a computer interface from which various tasks can be performed a programming environment
People Are Reading
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 of environment from the Web
-
China’s emergence as a new, alternative unifying force is hardly limited to environment.
-
Fourteen billionaires joined Bill Gates and Warren Buffett in giving away more than half their money to causes focused on alleviating poverty, education, health care research, climate change and the environment.
-
English conversation club Practice speaking English in a friendly environment.
-
They’re also learning about their communities outside of the school environment.
-
Merkel was an environment minister in the 1990s, an example of just how far back her commitment to the issue goes.
-
The lawsuit said Elsea's employer failed to provide a safe working environment, properly maintain the machinery or manage the hazards associated with the machinery involved in the accident.
-
TAR also has the ability to keep track of a soldier's location in relation to his or her environment in 3D space.
-
The party had already been forced to spend millions of dollars to prop up its nominee in a race being pored over for clues about the national political environment in the tumultuous first months of Mr. Trump’s presidency.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'environment'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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").
1827
First Known Use of environment
1827
Synonym Discussion of environment
Other Ecology Terms
ENVIRONMENT Defined for English Language Learners
environment
playDefinition of environment for English Language Learners
-
: the conditions that surround someone or something : the conditions and influences that affect the growth, health, progress, etc., of someone or something
-
the environment : the natural world
ENVIRONMENT Defined for Kids
environment
playDefinition of environment for Students
1 : a person's physical surroundings He lives in a comfortable rural environment.
2 : the surrounding conditions or forces (as soil, climate, and living things) that influence a plant's or animal's characteristics and ability to survive
3 : the social and cultural conditions that affect the life of a person or community a happy home environment
Medical Dictionary
Medical Definition of environment
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
Learn More about environment
-
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for environment Spanish Central: Translation of environment Nglish: Translation of environment for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of environment for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up environment? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!