environment
noun
-ˈvī(-ə)r(n)-
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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").
Synonyms
Examples of environment in a Sentence
Dominique Fluker, Essence, 25 Oct. 2023
Kiyoshi Ota—Bloomberg via Getty Images Honda Motor Co. is shelving plans to jointly develop affordable electric vehicles with General Motors Co. due to a changing business environment, Chief Executive Officer Toshihiro Mibe said.
—Supriya Singh, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2023
This harassment included threats, bullying, verbal abuse, or actions from patients or coworkers leading to a hostile work environment, according to the report.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2023
Such an environment likely would have been populated by wildlife, Jamieson added, though the region’s fossil record is too incomplete to indicate which animals may have inhabited it.
—Reuters, NBC News, 24 Oct. 2023
The strong results come after Microsoft, Alphabet, Snap and other tech companies carried out mass layoffs and other cost cutting moves over the past year following a difficult 2022 when advertisers and other clients cut back on their spending due to concerns over the macroeconomic environment.
—Clare Duffy, CNN, 24 Oct. 2023
Government, the private sector, and patients should all be part of a focused collaboration to ensure a policy and practice environment where this extraordinary new technology can be harnessed to improve the life of every American.
—Michael L. Millenson and Jennifer Goldsack, STAT, 23 Oct. 2023
Tiny mice found mummified on the peaks of Andean volcanoes had made a home in the Mars-like environment, new evidence suggests—as impossible as the feat would seem.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 23 Oct. 2023
Set and costume designer David Zinn renders these environments, and dresses the characters, in stunningly zesty fashion.
—Peter Marks, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'environment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing environment
Dictionary Entries Near environment
Cite this Entry
“Environment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/environment. Accessed 1 Nov. 2023.
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Kids Definition
environment
noun
-ˈvī(-ə)rn-
Medical Definition
environment
noun
-ˈvī(-ə)rn-
More from Merriam-Webster on environment
Nglish: Translation of environment for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of environment for Arabic Speakers
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