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biodiversity

American  
[bahy-oh-di-vur-si-tee, ‑dahy‑] / ˌbaɪ oʊ dɪˈvɜr sɪ ti, ‑daɪ‑ /

noun

  1. biological diversity among and within plant and animal species in an environment.

    Coral reefs are not just havens for marine biodiversity, they also underpin the economies of many coastal communities.

    Spiraling extinctions will continue diminishing biodiversity for hundreds of years.


biodiversity British  
/ ˌbaɪəʊdaɪˈvɜːsɪtɪ /

noun

  1. the existence of a wide variety of plant and animal species in their natural environments, which is the aim of conservationists concerned about the indiscriminate destruction of rainforests and other habitats

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

biodiversity Scientific  
/ bī′ō-dĭ-vûrsĭ-tē /
  1. The number, variety, and genetic variation of different organisms found within a specified geographic region.


biodiversity Cultural  
  1. A term that describes the number of different species that live within a particular ecosystem.


Discover More

The preservation of biodiversity is considered by environmentalists to be a major goal of environmental policy.

Etymology

Origin of biodiversity

An Americanism first recorded in 1985–90; bio(logical) ( def. ) + diversity ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Beyond reducing food waste, the project highlights the sustainable use of local biodiversity.

From Science Daily

ILI says the development would be similar in size to the prison, while the "vast majority" of the land would be set aside for "biodiversity and landscaping".

From BBC

"It's about working with the natural environment – reducing waste, influencing how water and drainage are managed, and ensuring everything operates more sustainably with less impact on biodiversity."

From BBC

It will lead to legally-binding targets on boosting biodiversity, similar to those already in place for tackling climate change.

From BBC

"These habitats are exceptionally rare, rich in biodiversity, support unique flora and fauna, and are impossible to recreate or replace," he said.

From BBC