habitable

adjective

hab·​it·​able ˈha-bə-tə-bəl How to pronounce habitable (audio)
 also  hə-ˈbi-tə-
: capable of being lived in : suitable for habitation
habitability noun
habitableness noun
habitably
ˈha-bə-tə-blē How to pronounce habitable (audio)
 also  hə-ˈbi-tə-
adverb

Examples of habitable in a Sentence

The house is not habitable. the frigid Arctic is not habitable for amphibians and reptiles—or for humans, either, for that matter
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The telescope had been used to track asteroids on a path to Earth, conduct research that led to a Nobel Prize and determine whether a planet was potentially habitable. Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024 Simple life emerged on earth within the first billion years of its habitable window, astrophysicist Piero Madau, a University of California, Santa Cruz, noted in a 2023 paper appearing in The Astrophysical Journal. Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 8 Sep. 2024 This system is made up of seven rocky, roughly Earth-sized planets that are fairly close together, some of which are in the star’s habitable zone. Michael Irving, New Atlas, 21 Oct. 2024 Four adjacent units sustained light smoke damage but were habitable. Jason Green, The Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for habitable 

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of habitable was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near habitable

Cite this Entry

“Habitable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/habitable. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

habitable

adjective
hab·​it·​able ˈhab-ət-ə-bəl How to pronounce habitable (audio)
: suitable or fit to live in
a habitable cave
habitability noun

Legal Definition

habitable

adjective
hab·​it·​able ˈha-bi-tə-bəl How to pronounce habitable (audio)
: suitable and fit for a person to live in : free of defects that endanger the health and safety of occupants see also warranty of habitability at warranty
habitability noun
habitableness noun
habitably adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on habitable

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