habitat

[hab-i-tat]

noun

1. the natural environment of an organism; the place that is natural for the life and growth of an organism.

   Orchids have a tropical habitat.

2. the place where a person or thing is usually found.

   Paris is a major habitat of artists.

3. a special environment for living in over an extended period, as an underwater research vessel.

4. habitation.

habitat

/ ˈhæbɪˌtæt /

noun

1. the environment in which an animal or plant normally lives or grows

2. the place in which a person, group, class, etc, is normally found

habitat

1. The area or natural environment in which an organism or population normally lives. A habitat is made up of physical factors such as soil, moisture, range of temperature, and availability of light as well as biotic factors such as the availability of food and the presence of predators. A habitat is not necessarily a geographic area—for a parasitic organism it is the body of its host or even a cell within the host's body.

habitat

1. The area or type of environment in which a particular kind of animal or plant usually lives.

Word History and Origins

Origin of habitat¹

First recorded in 1755–65; from Latin: “it inhabits,” 3rd person singular present indicative of habitāre “to inhabit, dwell, live,” frequentative of habēre “to have, hold”

Word History and Origins

Origin of habitat¹

C18: from Latin: it inhabits, from habitāre to dwell, from habēre to have

Synonym Study

See ecosystem ( def. ).

Example Sentences

Zoo officials said in a statement that Denny, a 10-year-old western lowland gorilla, broke one of the three layers of tempered glass separating guests from the gorilla habitat on Saturday.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Unfortunately, the giant garter snake is becoming a casualty of California’s brutal cycle of droughts and habitat destruction — as much of the Central Valley converts to agriculture or infrastructure development, according to the U.S.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In the new lawsuit, the federal government is seeking to recover costs for the damage the 2019 fire caused to 800 acres of national forest, including for the destruction of wildlife and habitats.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Global warming is destroying the natural habitat of animals including seals that live in the cold parts of the world.

Read more on Barron's

Species are moved between categories when new data shows changes in their population, habitat or threats.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• cave 
• dwelling 
• environment 
• haven 
• nest 
• surroundings 
• terrain 
• territory