atmospheric
Americanadjective
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pertaining to, existing in, or consisting of the atmosphere.
atmospheric vapors.
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caused by, produced by, or operated on by the atmosphere.
atmospheric storms.
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resembling or suggestive of the atmosphere; having muted tones and softened or indistinct outlines; hazy.
atmospheric effects.
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having or producing an emotional atmosphere.
atmospheric quality; atmospheric lighting.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of atmospheric
First recorded in 1775–85; atmosphere + -ic
Explanation
Something that's atmospheric is related to a planet's atmosphere, or the gases that surround it. Atmospheric pollution can sometimes cause asthma and other breathing problems. All planets have an atmosphere, layers of gas that are held close to them by their gravitational pull. The atmospheric conditions on Earth have allowed many life forms to develop, but global warming is a serious atmospheric problem that is getting worse. Every planet has its own unique atmospheric makeup. The adjective atmospheric comes from atmosphere, which stems from the Greek root words atmos, "steam or vapor," and spharia, "sphere or globe."
Vocabulary lists containing atmospheric
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for February 3–February 9, 2024
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for October 23–October 29, 2021
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"Modern Automotive Technology," Vocabulary from Section 4
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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.
A ridge of high pressure linked to the Azores High - a large semi-permanent centre of high atmospheric pressure - is expected to extend north-eastwards across the UK, while the jet stream shifts further north.
From BBC • Jul. 4, 2026
High-energy lasers are degraded by atmospheric conditions — rain, fog, sand and smoke all scatter and absorb the beam, reducing effective range and time on target.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 29, 2026
The observations could only be matched by atmospheric conditions that did not seem physically realistic.
From Science Daily • Jun. 28, 2026
But several factors have made Europe the planet's fastest-warming continent, including changes in atmospheric circulation and melting ice.
From Barron's • Jun. 26, 2026
The summit proper, a slender rock fin sprouting a grotesque meringue of atmospheric ice, stood twenty feet directly above.
From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
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.
