environment

noun en·vi·ron·ment \ in-ˈvī-rə(n)-mənt , -ˈvī(-ə)r(n)- \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Examples: environment in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Meanings of environment

Definition of environment

1 : the circumstances, objects, or conditions by which one is surrounded

2 a : the complex of physical, chemical, and biotic factors (such as climate, soil, and living things) that act upon an organism or an ecological community and ultimately determine its form and survival

b : the aggregate of social and cultural conditions that influence the life of an individual or community

3 : the position or characteristic position of a linguistic element in a sequence

4 : a computer interface from which various tasks can be performed

a programming environment

—

environmental

play \in-ˌvī-rə(n)-ˈmen-tᵊl, -ˌvī(-ə)r(n)-\ adjective

—

environmentally

play \in-ˌvī-rə(n)-ˈmen-tᵊl-ē, -ˌvī(-ə)r(n)-\ adverb

See environment defined for English-language learners

See environment defined for kids

Examples of environment in a Sentence

He grew up in a loving environment.
We're trying to create a better business environment.
These animals were raised in a controlled environment.
Many plants are unable to survive in such a harsh environment.
Heredity and environment are both important.
Pollution is bad for the environment.

Recent Examples of environment from the Web

The corporate activism is evidence that a fledgling movement to ban plastic straws, which sprang from outrage over plastic’s impact on the environment and animals, continues to stir.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Whole Foods to deliver free in two hours to Amazon Prime customers," 12 June 2018
The presser opened with Battlefield V, set during World War II, which will have heavily destructible environments and a Battle Royale Mode a la Fortnite.

— julie muncy, WIRED, "The Biggest Surprises (and Missed Opportunities) of the E3 Press Conferences," 12 June 2018
Their report showed current and future plans for San Diego County for growth and population, housing, transportation, environment and funding.

— karen pearlman, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Traffic woes in Santee have developer eyeing ways to help community," 11 June 2018
President Trump left Canada Saturday, skipping sessions on energy, the environment and our oceans at the G-7 summit.

— kathryn watson, CBS News, "Trump departs for summit in Singapore, skipping G-7 environmental sessions," 9 June 2018
Each of these locations brings its own challenges, so technology must be adapted to the specific environment and threat for each future site.

— sean gallagher, Ars Technica, "We know you hate the Internet of Things, but it’s saving megafauna from poachers," 6 June 2018
The discussion also addressed the impact of widespread warehouse development on the environment and our transportation system.

— ted slowik, Daily Southtown, "Slowik: Illinois bill to regulate workers' scheduling unreasonable," 6 June 2018
Special Paul Gauguin cruises, in conjunction with the Wildlife Conservation Society, introduce kids and adults to the environment and animals of the South Seas.

— rosemary mcclure, latimes.com, "Visit French Polynesia on a family-oriented cruise where you can swim with sharks, take nature hikes, watch Tahitian dancers," 6 June 2018
Brady Dennis is a national reporter for The Washington Post, focusing on the environment and public health issues.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Scott Pruitt enlisted an EPA aide to help his wife find a job - at Chick-fil-A," 5 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'environment.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Meanings of environment

Descending from the Middle French preposition environ “around,” environment , in its most basic meaning, is “that which surrounds.” When preceded by the and unmodified, it usually refers to the natural world (“please don’t litter if you care about the environment”). In a less physical, more extended sense, it may signify the circumstances and conditions that make up everyday life (“He grew up in a loving environment.”) The word may also be applied in highly specialized ways, denoting, for example, “the position of a linguistic element” (“how g gets pronounced in Italian depends upon its phonetic environment”) or “a computer interface from which various tasks can be performed” (“the app works in varied environments").

First Known Use of environment

1827

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

environment Synonyms

Synonyms

ambient, atmosphere, climate, clime, context, environs, medium, milieu, setting, surround, surroundings, terrain;

Related Words

location, place, position, space;

backdrop, background;

element;

situation, status;

geography, habitat;

Synonym Discussion of environment

background, setting, environment, milieu, mise-en-scène mean the place, time, and circumstances in which something occurs. background often refers to the circumstances or events that precede a phenomenon or development.

- the shocking decision was part of the background of the riots

setting suggests looking at real-life situations in literary or dramatic terms.

- a militant reformer who was born into an unlikely social setting

environment applies to all the external factors that have a formative influence on one's physical, mental, or moral development.

- the kind of environment that produces juvenile delinquents

milieu applies especially to the physical and social surroundings of a person or group of persons.

- an intellectual milieu conducive to artistic experimentation

mise-en-scène strongly suggests the use of properties to achieve a particular atmosphere or theatrical effect.

- a gothic thriller with a carefully crafted mise-en-scène

Other Ecology Terms

Malthusian, anthropogenic, biomass, carbon footprint, crepuscular, niche, sere, symbiosis, taiga, tundra

ENVIRONMENT Defined for English Language Learners

environment

noun

Definition of environment for English Language Learners

: the conditions that surround someone or something : the conditions and influences that affect the growth, health, progress, etc., of someone or something
the environment : the natural world

ENVIRONMENT Defined for Kids

environment

noun en·vi·ron·ment \ in-ˈvī-rən-mənt , -ˈvī-ərn-mənt \

Definition of environment for Students

1 : a person's physical surroundings

He lives in a comfortable rural environment.

2 : the surrounding conditions or forces (as soil, climate, and living things) that influence a plant's or animal's characteristics and ability to survive

3 : the social and cultural conditions that affect the life of a person or community

a happy home environment

Medical Dictionary

environment

noun en·vi·ron·ment \ in-ˈvī-rən-mənt , -ˈvī(-ə)rn- \

medical Definition of environment

1 : the complex of physical, chemical, and biotic factors (as climate, soil, and living things) that act upon an organism or an ecological community and ultimately determine its form and survival

2 : the aggregate of social and cultural conditions that influence the life of an individual or community

—