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

In her own telling, her main focus as a board member has been creating an environment that supports whole-child development.

— sarah gouda, Teen Vogue, "Eshé Collins of Atlanta Public Schools' Board of Education Talks About Her Path to Public Service," 19 July 2017
Volunteer just one five hour shift a week in a fun retail environment.

— Daily Southtown, "Community news briefs," 19 July 2017
But consumers in the West may hesitate to use self-driving cars that have been trained in a laxer safety environment that is more tolerant of accidents.

— The Economist, "The algorithm kingdomChina may match or beat America in AI," 15 July 2017
Their next step is to move beyond simply tracking the virus’s position to trying to understand its environment.

— emily matchar, Smithsonian, "“VirusCam” Can Watch Individual Viruses to (Someday) Keep You From Getting Sick," 12 July 2017
That means p eriods are tied to everything from public health and education to the environment and basic human dignity.

— abigail jones, MSNBC Newsweek, "The Period Movement: Meet the Men Fighting to Stop Menstruation-Shaming in the Developing World," 12 July 2017
San Diego start-ups raised a solid amount of venture capital in the second quarter this year compared with a year earlier – signaling a good but not great fundraising environment for local entrepreneurs.

— mike freeman, sandiegouniontribune.com, "San Diego start-ups navigate mixed venture capital landscape in 2nd quarter," 12 July 2017
Rearrange your environment Be sure your house is set up to maximize exploration.

— melissa bernstein, Redbook, "How to Do Nothing This Summer and Still Have An Amazing Time," 7 July 2017
All of the above are made from chemicals or materials that are bad for the environment, so follow Forecastle's lead and stay away from the cliche party accessories. 5.

— bailey loosemore, The Courier-Journal, "5 ways to help save the planet at Forecastle Festival," 6 July 2017

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").

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

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