humidity

noun

hu·​mid·​i·​ty hyü-ˈmi-də-tē How to pronounce humidity (audio)
yü-
plural humidities
: a moderate degree of wetness especially of the atmosphere compare relative humidity

Examples of humidity in a Sentence

the humidity of the region It's not the heat that will get you—it's the humidity. The temperature is 67 degrees with humidity at 75 percent. an area of low humidity
Recent Examples on the Web Gabriel tried to distract himself with the tactile sensations of farming: wet dirt stiffening his hands and massing under his nails; cold creeping through his jeans and long underwear; humidity swelling through his sinuses. Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2024 Certain factors, including aging, low humidity, cold temperatures, chemical irritants, and skin conditions, can reduce ceramides. Lisa Desantis, Health, 22 Mar. 2024 Factors other than the temperature, such as precipitation, humidity and sunlight, have relatively little effect on the timing of spring, said Richard B. Primack, a biologist at Boston University. Harry Stevens, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024 Firefighters continued to battle wildfires across parts of the Mid-Atlantic on Thursday, a day after high winds and low humidity sparked dozens of fires in four states, prompting officials to issue air-quality alerts. Remy Tumin, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024 Dry conditions over the winter, recent warm temperatures and low humidity plus breezy conditions create conditions conducive to wildfires, the DNR said. Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024 Earlier this week, wild flames broke out and swept across the arid Texas Panhandle, aided by gusty winds, low humidity and extreme heat across the state that brought temperatures 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than February averages. Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 After a glimpse of rain Thursday, the fire risk will return to critical levels Saturday in parts of the Texas Panhandle and was expected to worsen through the weekend as gusty winds and low humidity combine with brittle vegetation to feed the blaze. Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024 As the car will be used internationally, Rolls-Royce sought to ensure the wood would not be damaged by the rain, temperature and humidity of tropical climates. Alistair Charlton, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of humidity was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near humidity

Cite this Entry

“Humidity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humidity. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

humidity

noun
hu·​mid·​i·​ty hyü-ˈmid-ət-ē How to pronounce humidity (audio)
yü-
plural humidities
: moisture, dampness
especially : the amount of moisture in the air

Medical Definition

humidity

noun
hu·​mid·​i·​ty hyü-ˈmid-ət-ē, yü- How to pronounce humidity (audio)
plural humidities
: a moderate degree of wetness especially of the atmosphere see absolute humidity, relative humidity

More from Merriam-Webster on humidity

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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