inhabitable
1 Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inhabitable1
First recorded in 1400–50; inhabit ( def. ) + -able ( def. )
Origin of inhabitable2
First recorded in 1580–90; from French, from Latin inhabitābilis, from in- in- 3 ( def. ) + habitābilis habitable ( def. )
Explanation
Something inhabitable can be safely and comfortably lived in. After a major fire or a flood, it can take some time to make a house inhabitable again. The earth is inhabitable, but Mars is not. Your house is inhabitable, but your mom's pickup truck isn't really inhabitable. If you can inhabit, or live in a place, it's inhabitable, from the Latin inhabitare, "dwell in." An earlier definition of inhabitable meant completely the opposite: "not able to be lived in," from the roots in-, "not," and habitable, "fit to live in."
Vocabulary lists containing inhabitable
Content Summary G.4: Human Adaptations to the Physical Environment
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Vocabulary from Readings 1, Unit 1
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5.4: The Second Industrial Revolution (Sources 1–8)
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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.
But this is the crux of the environmental issue: We have, for far too long, made it lightly optional to maintain the Earth as a place that is inhabitable in the long term.
From Slate ● Dec. 30, 2024
The ADU was heavily damaged and was “red tagged,” meaning the building is inhabitable.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2024
The Canarias Se Agota movement believes the numbers of tourists are excessive, making the islands less inhabitable for locals, impacting the environment and pushing up housing costs.
From BBC ● Apr. 12, 2024
Mass evacuations following the October attack have, for now, sharply reduced its inhabitable footprint.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 26, 2024
This route kept us clear from start to finish of inhabited, or inhabitable, country.
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
