environment

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noun en·vi·ron·ment \in-ˈvī-rə(n)-mənt, -ˈvī(-ə)r(n)-\

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

environmental

play \in-ˌvī-rə(n)-ˈmen-t^əl, -ˌvī(-ə)r(n)-\ adjective

environmentally

play \in-ˌvī-rə(n)-ˈmen-t^əl-ē, -ˌvī(-ə)r(n)-\ adverb

See environment defined for English-language learners

See environment defined for kids

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

At the end of each arm are mirrors hanging by glass threads, isolated from the bumps and shrieks of the environment better than any Rolls-Royce ever conceived.

— dennis overbye, New York Times, "LIGO Hears Gravitational Waves Einstein Predicted", 11 Feb. 2016
Companies in industrial sectors, which accounted for the bulk of borrowing, are navigating a treacherous environment.

— keith bradsher, New York Times, "Indebted Chinese Companies Increase Pressures on Government", 17 Jan. 2016
The site is intended for groups who want a rental home environment with hotel-level service.

— lilit marcus, CNT, "With Suiteness.com, You'll Never Be Relegated to a Hotel Cot Again", 13 Jan. 2016
Through research done partly at Texas A&M University, scientists have completed two gene DNA sequences in a tick that can live in the nostrils of chimpanzees as well as humans who come in contact with the chimps' environment.

— carol christian, Houston Chronicle, "Newly discovered chimpanzee 'nostril tick' worries researchers", 4 Oct. 2013
One of the reasons that Western, white parents of today remember an easier admissions environment at the top schools is that in their era, the schools held a dismissive attitude toward Asian students.

— caitlin flanagan, The Atlantic, "The Ivy Delusion", 6 Apr. 2011
Going to a Web site will mean entering a virtual-reality environment, either by yourself or with others.

— ray kurzweil, Esquire, "And You Think The iPhone is Advanced...", 1 Jan. 2008
The common key to the success of these projects is creating an environment where how a customer feels is even more important than what he is served.

— david granger, Esquire, "Danny Meyer: What I've Learned", 31 Oct. 2006
Arsenic-contaminated environments have also caused sickness and death among horses, cows, goats, pigs, deer, fishes, and bees, but arsenical sprays and dusts are still widely applied.

— rachel carson, The New Yorker, "Silent Spring—I", 16 June 1962

These example sentences are collected from online sources. Help us improve them by sending 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

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

Other Ecology Terms

Malthusian, anthropogenic, biomass, carbon footprint, crepuscular, niche, sere, symbiosis, taiga, tundra

ENVIRONMENT Defined for English Language Learners

environment

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noun en·vi·ron·ment \in-ˈvī-rə(n)-mənt, -ˈvī(-ə)r(n)-\

Definition 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

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noun en·vi·ron·ment \in-ˈvī-rən-mənt, -ˈvī-ərn-mənt\

Definition 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

environment

play play

noun en·vi·ron·ment \in-ˈvī-rən-mənt, -ˈvī(-ə)rn-\

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