environment

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 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

Other Words from environment Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Meanings of Environment More Example Sentences Learn More about environment

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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

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").

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 Stringer notes that early humans were completely attuned to their local environment and knew how to exploit its plant and animal resources on a daily basis. — Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, "To Adapt to a Changing Environment 400,000 Years Ago, Early Humans Developed New Tools and Behaviors," 21 Oct. 2020 Ideas can be stimulated from my environment — like the cat paintings. — Los Angeles Times, "How Linda Stark transforms kitschy hearts into visceral symbols of love and valor," 21 Oct. 2020 The United States must repair the damage that the Trump administration has wrought to our environment, both within our country and across the world. — Tom Udall, Scientific American, "We Must Mobilize to Avert a Lonely Earth," 20 Oct. 2020 All kinds of legislators are pushing all kinds of bills, many of which have unintended consequences for our environment. — Nick Sortal, sun-sentinel.com, "Speaking up for our environment | Opinion," 16 Oct. 2020 Some commenters think that monetary policy cannot be effective in our current environment of ultra-low interest rates, but this argument reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of how monetary policy works. — Alexander William Salter, National Review, "Fiscal Stimulus Is Ineffective. The Fed Requesting It Is Even Worse.," 12 Oct. 2020 San Francisco International Airport likewise embraces its environment, with the 1,460-square-foot SkyTerrace, which opened in February. — Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, "New Airports Are Promising a Better Future Once Travel Bounces Back," 12 Oct. 2020 This incredibly efficient, clean air provider removes 99.97 percent of particles as small as 0.3 microns from your home environment. — Popular Science, "Celebrate the 10.10 Shopping Festival with these 10 amazing deals," 12 Oct. 2020 Plastic pollution threatens our natural environment. — Paul Douglas, Star Tribune, "Reality Check: First Freeze and Possible Flakes by Late Week," 12 Oct. 2020

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.

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Learn More about environment

Dictionary Entries near environment

environmental resistance

Statistics for environment

Last Updated

26 Oct 2020

Cite this Entry

“Environment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/environment. Accessed 30 Oct. 2020.

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More Definitions for environment

environment

noun

English Language Learners Definition of environment

: the conditions that surround someone or something : the conditions and influences that affect the growth, health, progress, etc., of someone or something

: the natural world

See the full definition for environment in the English Language Learners Dictionary

environment

noun

en·vi·ron·ment | \ in-ˈvī-rən-mənt

, -ˈvī-ərn-mənt \

Kids Definition of environment

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

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