Synonyms

habitat

American

[hab-i-tat] / ˈhæb ɪˌtæt /

noun

the natural environment of an organism; the place that is natural for the life and growth of an organism.

Orchids have a tropical habitat.
the place where a person or thing is usually found.

Paris is a major habitat of artists.
a special environment for living in over an extended period, as an underwater research vessel.
habitation.

habitat British

/ ˈhæbɪˌtæt /

noun

the environment in which an animal or plant normally lives or grows
the place in which a person, group, class, etc, is normally found

"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

habitat Scientific

/ hăb′ĭ-tăt′ /

The area or natural environment in which an organism or population normally lives. A habitat is made up of physical factors such as soil, moisture, range of temperature, and availability of light as well as biotic factors such as the availability of food and the presence of predators. A habitat is not necessarily a geographic area—for a parasitic organism it is the body of its host or even a cell within the host's body.

habitat Cultural

The area or type of environment in which a particular kind of animal or plant usually lives.

Related Words

See ecosystem ( def. ).

Etymology

Origin of habitat

First recorded in 1755–65; from Latin: “it inhabits,” 3rd person singular present indicative of habitāre “to inhabit, dwell, live,” frequentative of habēre “to have, hold”

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.

Working with Glasgow City Council, the Butterfly Conservation charity hopes to open 40 habitats for wildlife during the two-year project.

From BBC

When a young boy takes over a beaver-bot to stop a construction company’s plan to destroy the local habitat, he accidentally launches an uprising against all humanity among the local fauna.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The purpose of the channel is not to hold habitat,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

On land, habitats for hedgehogs, field voles and other small mammals have been washed out, resulting in them being pushed out of their homes and drowning.

From BBC

The Daera minister Andrew Muir said the strategy marked an "important milestone" in protecting Northern Ireland's "outstanding" marine environment, and that it represented a wide range of habitats.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023