biophilia
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of biophilia
1960–65; from New Latin: literally, “love of life” from bio- ( def. ) + -philia ( def. ); coined by Erich Fromm in The Heart of Man: Its Genius for Good and Evil (1964) to mean “love for humanity and nature, and independence and freedom”; extended by Edward O. Wilson in Biophilia (1984) to mean “the rich, natural pleasure that comes from being surrounded by living organisms.”
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.
Taylor argues fractals are also the source of our "biophilia," or love of nature.
From Salon ● Jun. 15, 2021
Perhaps it will become a model of biophilia in action, with spaces designed to foster a greater appreciation of nature and encourage daily interaction and interest in the natural world.
From Washington Post ● Jun. 11, 2021
This is one premise of “the biophilia hypothesis,” which holds that people are inherently attracted to nature.
From New York Times ● Mar. 19, 2021
One is the biophilia hypothesis, which posits that because we evolved surrounded by plants and greenery we have an innate affinity for them.
From Slate ● Jun. 30, 2020
I’m struck by how this zoo holiday helps fulfil what US naturalist EO Wilson called biophilia – our craving for a deep connection with other species.
From The Guardian ● May 31, 2019
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.
