environment

noun

en·​vi·​ron·​ment in-ˈvī-rə(n)-mənt How to pronounce environment (audio) -ˈvī(-ə)r(n)- How to pronounce environment (audio)
plural environments
Synonyms of environmentnext
1
: the circumstances, objects, or conditions by which one is surrounded : the factors and influences that affect the growth, health, progress, functioning, etc., of someone or something
the home/school/office environment
a safe/supportive environment for children
in today's competitive business environment
plants grown in a controlled environment
an environment conducive to learning
Plenty of corner-office occupants want employees to return to the office, the environment in which they built their careers …—The Economist
2
the environment : the natural world : the complex of physical, chemical, and biotic elements that exist in nature
Commonly, the environment is considered to consist of the atmosphere, water (lakes, dams, streams, oceans, etc.), soils, sediments, suspended sediments and biota.—Des W. Connell
… his devotion to "the environment" is unwavering. He refuses, for instance, to serve commercially bottled water, citing the obscene waste of fuel necessary to ship it from the Continent and the sheer excess of all that glass and plastic.—Joe Dolce
3
: the position or characteristic position of a linguistic element in a sequence
the phonetic environment of a speech sound
4
: a computer interface from which various tasks can be performed
a programming environment
environmental
in-ˌvī-rə(n)-ˈmen-tᵊl How to pronounce environment (audio)
-ˌvī(-ə)r(n)-
adjective
environmental quality
environmental groups
environmentally
in-ˌvī-rə(n)-ˈmen-tᵊl-ē How to pronounce environment (audio)
-ˌvī(-ə)r(n)-
adverb
an environmentally sensitive wetland
products marked as environmentally friendly

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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

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web However, these measures, while important, fail to account for a professor’s ability to foster a meaningful learning environment or engage students effectively. —Nicholas Ladany, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024 Although the experiments were done in a much smaller environment than space, they could be scaled to predict the effects of nuclear explosions on an actual asteroid. —Greg Wehner, Fox News, 24 Sep. 2024 Appointments are free for a solo shopping trip, or can be arranged for friend groups so clients can explore the brand in a relaxed retail environment. —Rhonda Richford, WWD, 24 Sep. 2024 When planted at low elevations the varietal can yield unmitigated fruit bombs, but when it is grown at heights beyond 1,600 feet, the cooler temperatures, especially after sunset, provides the best environment to cultivate high-quality, elegant Grenache. —Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 24 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for environment 

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

First Known Use

1725, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of environment was in 1725

Dictionary Entries Near environment

environ

environment

environmentalism

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Environment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/environment. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.

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Kids Definition

environment

noun
en·​vi·​ron·​ment in-ˈvī-rən-mənt How to pronounce environment (audio) -ˈvī(-ə)rn- How to pronounce environment (audio)
1
: surroundings
living in a rural environment
2
: the surrounding conditions or forces that influence or modify: as
a
: the whole complex of factors (as soil, climate, and living things) that influence the form and the ability to survive of a plant or animal or ecological community
b
: the social and cultural conditions that influence a person or human community
a safe home environment
environmental
-ˌvī-rən-ˈment-ᵊl How to pronounce environment (audio)
-ˌvī(-ə)rn-
adjective
environmentally
-ᵊl-ē How to pronounce environment (audio)
adverb

Medical Definition

environment

noun
en·​vi·​ron·​ment in-ˈvī-rən-mənt How to pronounce environment (audio) -ˈvī(-ə)rn- How to pronounce environment (audio)
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
environmental
-ˌvī-rən-ˈment-ᵊl, -ˌvī(-ə)rn- How to pronounce environment (audio)
adjective
environmentally
-ᵊl-ē How to pronounce environment (audio)
adverb

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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