habitation

noun

hab·​i·​ta·​tion ˌha-bə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the act of inhabiting : occupancy

not fit for human habitation

2

: a dwelling place

3

: settlement, colony

Synonyms of habitation

• occupancy
• occupation

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

Or somewhere not meant for human habitation. —CBS News, 14 Nov. 2025

Work at the site to determine a more detailed timeline of dinosaur habitation began in 2011. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025

In a year, Phoenix saw a sharp rise in homelessness In 2024, an annual count of people experiencing homelessness in Phoenix decreased for the first time in years, with 2,701 people found in places unfit for habitation, a 19% drop from the 3,333 people reported in 2023. —Helen Rummel, AZCentral.com, 20 Oct. 2025

This larger outpost would be a stepping stone toward artificial gravity and long-term habitation. —Andrew Jones, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2025

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

Rhymes for habitation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

habitation

noun

hab·​i·​ta·​tion ˌhab-ə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the act of inhabiting : occupancy

2

: a dwelling place : residence

Legal Definition

habitation

noun

hab·​i·​ta·​tion ˌha-bə-ˈtā-shən 

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