environment

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

Updated on: 21 Apr 2018

Definition of environment

1 : the circumstances, objects, or conditions by which one is surrounded

2 a : 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 survival

b : 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

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environmental

play \in-ˌvī-rə(n)-ˈmen-tᵊl, -ˌvī(-ə)r(n)-\ adjective

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environmentally

play \in-ˌvī-rə(n)-ˈmen-tᵊl-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

She was transferred at the end of March to the Residential Reentry Center in Long Beach, a facility that provides a structured and supervised environment where she’ll be given employment counseling, job placement and financial management assistance.

— christina dugan, PEOPLE.com, "Abby Lee Miller Has Been Diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: Doctor Says," 18 Apr. 2018
The films are designed to advance his distinct filmic vocabulary in new contexts and environments: a shuttered resort hotel, a spacious Manhattan apartment, Vietnam.

— junot díaz, The New Yorker, "“2001: A Space Odyssey”: What It Means, and How It Was Made," 17 Apr. 2018
Hollywood Screenwriters Collaborative and engaging environment to discuss and formulate ideas on the topic of screenwriting as well as provide insight on the screenwriting industry.

— Sun-Sentinel.com, "Fort Lauderdale, Oakland Park area events, April 18-28," 17 Apr. 2018
These are, after all, 21- to 23-year-olds being thrust into a hyper-competitive environment.

— andy staples, SI.com, "How Trevor Moawad, College Football's Coveted Mental Coach, Molds Draft Prospects' Minds," 17 Apr. 2018
Poland has since replaced its environment minister and stopped the logging.

— Fox News, "Top EU court: Poland broke law by logging in pristine forest," 17 Apr. 2018
Before the start of each school year, Fenwick girls water polo coach Jack Wagner organizes a dinner for his team. The coach's goal is to get the Friars back together in a relaxing, enjoyable environment where the players can bond again.

— rich mayor, chicagotribune.com, "Paulina Correa brings a new mindset after transferring to Fenwick," 17 Apr. 2018
There are hundreds of millions of these animals in urban environments.

— andrew joseph, STAT, "Germs carried by New York’s mice are plentiful, and some have antibiotic-resistance genes," 17 Apr. 2018
Gym environments may also exacerbate feelings of depression or anxiety.

— beth mccoll, SELF, "I Have Depression and Anxiety. Please Stop Telling Me to ‘Go for a Run’," 16 Apr. 2018

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

environment Synonyms

Synonyms

ambient, atmosphere, climate, clime, context, environs, medium, milieu, setting, surround, surroundings, terrain;

Related Words

location, place, position, space;

backdrop, background;

element;

situation, status;

geography, habitat;

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

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

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

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

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