abiotic
Americanadjective
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Not associated with or derived from living organisms. Abiotic factors in an environment include such items as sunlight, temperature, wind patterns, and precipitation.
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Etymology
Origin of abiotic
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Explanation
In science, anything abiotic is not alive. Abiotic factors in an ecosystem are things like temperature, ocean currents, and humidity. Abiotic elements play an important role in the world, in a variety of ways. Everything that isn't living, and never was living, is considered abiotic—from the sand on the beach and boulders on a mountain to the sunlight from above and the mineral makeup of the soil beneath your feet. Abiotic comes from the prefix a-, "without," and biotic, "pertaining to life."
Vocabulary lists containing abiotic
Organisms and Environments 1: The Environment
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The ACT Science Test: Earth Science Review
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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.
Abiotic minerals also emit their own light, called phosphorescence.
From Scientific American • Jul. 27, 2022
Abiotic molecules can only develop into organic molecules in the presence of oxygen, so oxygen should be added.
From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022
Abiotic features of rivers and streams vary along the length of the river or stream.
From Textbooks • Sep. 6, 2018
Abiotic factors cause aquatic ecosystems to have zones with different characteristics.
From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2018
Abiotic factors such as temperature and salinity fluctuate wildly, and toxic metals and desiccation also pose serious challenges.
From Nature • Oct. 3, 2012
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
