habitat

noun

hab·​i·​tat ˈha-bə-ˌtat How to pronounce habitat (audio)
1
a
: the place or environment where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives and grows
b
: the typical place of residence of a person or a group
the arctic habitat of the Inuit
c
: a housing for a controlled physical environment in which people can live under surrounding inhospitable conditions (as under the sea)
2
: the place where something is commonly found
has its natural habitat in university, in government, or in industrial laboratoriesB. B. Watson

Examples of habitat in a Sentence

a forest in California is set aside to preserve the unique brushy, rugged habitat required by nesting California condors
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.
Standing in the sun for hours with a placard is not my natural habitat. Doug McIntyre, Oc Register, 22 June 2025 Tour the Lighthouse, observe wildlife in their natural habitat in the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, hunt for shells along the beach, dine on a picnic lunch, play on the lawns around the Lighthouse, and simply have a good time. Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 21 June 2025 Nevertheless, the most memorable part of the entire experience was floating in the water, surrounded by sea lions in their natural habitat. Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 21 June 2025 Rather than shooting and killing his subjects like Audubon, Catesby painted the birds alive in their natural habitats. Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for habitat

Word History

Etymology

Latin, it inhabits, from habitare

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of habitat was in 1796

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Habitat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/habitat. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

habitat

noun
hab·​i·​tat ˈhab-ə-ˌtat How to pronounce habitat (audio)
: the place or type of place where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives or grows

Medical Definition

habitat

noun
hab·​i·​tat ˈhab-ə-ˌtat How to pronounce habitat (audio)
1
: the place or environment where a plant or animal naturally occurs
the human pubic region is the natural habitat of the crab louse
2
: a housing for a controlled physical environment in which people can live surrounded by inhospitable conditions (as under the sea)

More from Merriam-Webster on habitat

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!