habitation

noun

hab·​i·​ta·​tion ˌha-bə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce habitation (audio)
1
: the act of inhabiting : occupancy
not fit for human habitation
2
: a dwelling place
3

Examples of habitation in a Sentence

The house was not fit for human habitation. a wilderness area with few habitations
Recent Examples on the Web While Ukraine waits for the U.S. Congress to resolve its debate over funding, Russia persists with its attritional offensives, throwing thousands of men into battles for towns that are battered beyond habitation when and if they are taken. Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs, 23 Feb. 2024 The lunar southlands are also a key target for future installments in NASA’s Artemis program, paving the way for semi-permanent human habitation on our nearest celestial neighbor. Popular Science, 22 Aug. 2023 The outpost is not meant for continuous human presence, but will have the power element as well as the eventual addition of a habitation space, capable of supporting four astronauts for 30 to 60 days. Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2024 Japan's government has committed to providing the life-support system for the Gateway's international habitation module, along with resupply services to deliver cargo to Gateway. Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 21 Dec. 2023 The lawsuit alleges some workers live in housing with no on-site toilet, some in windowless bedrooms with plywood walls, while others have lived in garages, haphazardly converted barns, or other buildings not fit for human habitation, according to a news release. Trent Abrego, Twin Cities, 9 Jan. 2024 There is a good reason that NASA plans to someday land astronauts near the South Pole: The water ice could perhaps support human habitation. Popular Science, 29 Nov. 2023 But when conditions again became conducive to human habitation, whether through beneficial climate shifts or, as the authors theorize, technological advances like human control of fire, our ancestors bounced back swiftly. Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Aug. 2023 Compared To Outer Space Human Body Limitations Aside from the obvious practical limitations, there are human factors that will ultimately determine whether long-term habitation of such structures is feasible. Conor Feehly, Discover Magazine, 14 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'habitation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English habitacioun, from Anglo-French habitaciun, from Latin habitation-, habitatio, from habitare to inhabit, frequentative of habēre

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near habitation

Cite this Entry

“Habitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/habitation. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

habitation

noun
hab·​i·​ta·​tion ˌhab-ə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce habitation (audio)
1
: the act of inhabiting : occupancy
2
: a dwelling place : residence

Legal Definition

habitation

noun
hab·​i·​ta·​tion ˌha-bə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce habitation (audio)
1
a
: the act of occupying or inhabiting
b
in the civil law of Louisiana : the right of a person to dwell in the house of another
2
: a dwelling place

More from Merriam-Webster on habitation

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