habitat

noun

hab·​i·​tat ˈha-bə-ˌtat 

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 laboratories.

—B. B. Watson

Synonyms of habitat

• home
• territory
• range

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

The scenarios would help planners identify vulnerabilities that could affect the wildlife and habitats the projects are meant to preserve. —Amy Green, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026

Due to construction underway on a new giraffe complex, the zoo’s entire giraffe herd will remain behind the scenes until the new habitat opens this summer, the zoo said in its post Friday. —Kendrick Calfee january 9, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 2026

But some say last year’s Eaton fire made the situation worse, driving bears out of their habitat and increasing the number of home invasions. —Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026

There are also numerous parks and preserves in the Chicago area including the Morton Arboretum and the Heller Nature Center — ideal habitat for many species. —Susan Koch, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin, it inhabits, from habitare

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for habitat

• acrobat
• autocrat
• automat
• bundesrat
• bureaucrat
• butterfat
• caveat
• chemostat
• copycat
• cryostat
• democrat
• diplomat

Kids Definition

habitat

noun

hab·​i·​tat ˈhab-ə-ˌtat 

: 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 

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)