comfort zone

American

noun

the range of atmospheric temperature and humidity considered comfortable for most people.

comfort zone British

noun

a situation or position in which a person feels secure, comfortable, or in control

encouraging people to work outside their comfort zone

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

She has found her comfort zone on the clay this season, winning 22 of her 25 matches - more than any other player on the WTA Tour - on the surface.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026

But Cheng's cross-strait rhetoric has gone beyond the comfort zone of many people in her own party and caused unease among foreign partners, including Washington.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

Bodybuilding was so far out of my comfort zone, and I liked that there was a hard finish with a competition.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

It’s OK to change your habits and break out of your comfort zone of savings accounts, checking accounts, CDs and annuities, as your friend finally did.

From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026

As much as he hated being the lettuce, it was his comfort zone.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023