environmental
Americanadjective
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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.
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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.
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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.
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
Etymology
Origin of environmental
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."
Vocabulary lists containing environmental
Earth Science - Middle School
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Earth Day
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Ancient Egypt and Kush, Lessons 1–3
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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.
But while there was common ground on online child protection, differences remained over the environmental impact of computing.
From Barron's • May 29, 2026
Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News commentator and British political strategist, has the backing of 21%, while 19% backed billionaire hedge fund founder turned environmental activist Tom Steyer, a Democrat.
From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026
The Gwent Levels is still subject to environmental protections, and by some estimates the original £1.6bn price tag could have ballooned to £2.5bn – the equivalent of almost the entire Welsh government capital budget.
From BBC • May 29, 2026
Researchers say this points to an example of "parallel evolution," where similar environmental pressures produce similar outcomes independently.
From Science Daily • May 28, 2026
Some scientists who are willing to concede the potent effect of environmental radiation on man nevertheless question whether mutagenic chemicals can, as a practical proposition, have the same effect.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
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.
