environmental

American  

[en-vahy-ruhn-men-tl, -vahy-ern-] / ɛnˌvaɪ rənˈmɛn tl, -ˌvaɪ ərn- /

adjective

1. of or relating to the totality of things, conditions, influences, cultural forces, etc., that surround and shape the life of a person or a population.

   Investigators in the study will examine possible associations between aggressive prostate cancer and exposures to environmental stressors such as discrimination, early-life adversity, and segregation.

2. Ecology. of or relating to all the external conditions, such as air, water, minerals, and other organisms, that surround and affect any given organism, often specifically relating to human interaction with these conditions.

   She took 11 lake samples to identify the fish communities present there and the defining environmental factors, like dissolved oxygen, pH, and vegetation.

   Agriculture is now a dominant force behind many environmental threats, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and the degradation of land and fresh water.

3. of or being art that surrounds the viewer or involves the viewer’s participation, often on a grand scale and outdoors.

   Our programs include an exhibition of global art, public lectures on birds, and a collaborative outdoor installation of environmental art.

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Usage

What does environmental mean? Environmental means of or relating to all the things that surround us and influence our lives, as in For some people, environmental stressors included how crowded a room is and how loud the noise is. In ecology, environmental also means of or relating to all external conditions that surround an organism, such as air, water, and minerals. When someone talks about climate change and its environmental impact, they mean that as the average temperature of the Earth changes, it affects the environment, such as through soil erosion, flooding, and more. Less often, environmental describes something that surrounds the viewer or encourages their participation, as with some outdoor art. Example: The environmental damage this project will cause might be unreasonable.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• environmentally
  adverb
• nonenvironmentally
  adverb
• preenvironmental
  adjective
• nonenvironmental
  adjective
• interenvironmental
  adjective
• proenvironmental
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of environmental

environment ( def. ) + -al ¹ ( def. )

Explanation

Environmental is the adjective form of environment, referring to a surrounding area. The word is usually used to refer to our ecology and the forces that act to change it. The noun environment, meaning the "state of being environed," first appeared around 1600. The word as referring to our natural surroundings was first recorded in 1827, and the popular idea of environmental concern in an ecological sense first appeared in 1956. In recent decades, the movement toward environmental awareness has grown rapidly. In a 1997 interview, environmentalist Barry Commoner noted that "Environmental concern is now firmly embedded in public life."

Example Sentences

What is the right balance between environmental regulation and building housing?

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2026

Fifteen minutes before Scotland began taking Bolivia to the cleaners at the Sports Illustrated Stadium, a weather warning was issued by New Jersey's department of environmental protection.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026

In 2015, Justice bought Bluestone back for $5 million in cash and acquired hundreds of millions of dollars in environmental liabilities.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026

They expanded the requirements needed in concept plans, including detailed disclosures on water sourcing, energy use and infrastructure, environmental and drainage impacts.

From Salon • Jun. 6, 2026

The sanctuary program offers cash rewards to anybody who calls in tips about serious environmental crimes.

From "Flush" by Carl Hiaasen

Related Words

• coincidental
• inconclusive
• indirect