humidity

American  

[hyoo-mid-i-tee, yoo-] / hyuˈmɪd ɪ ti, yu- /

noun

1. humid condition; moistness; dampness.

2. relative humidity.

3. an uncomfortably high amount of relative humidity.

   It's not the heat, it's the humidity that tires me out.

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humidity British  

/ hjuːˈmɪdɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state of being humid; dampness

2. a measure of the amount of moisture in the air See relative humidity absolute humidity

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humidity Scientific  

/ hyo̅o̅-mĭd′ĭ-tē /

1. The amount of water vapor in the atmosphere, usually expressed as either absolute humidity or relative humidity.

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humidity Cultural  

1. The amount of water vapor in the air. Humidity is measured in two ways: (1) Absolute humidity is the percentage of water vapor actually present in the air. (2) Relative humidity is the absolute humidity divided by the amount of water that could be present in the air. Relative humidity indicates the degree of comfort or discomfort one feels from the humidity, because it indicates the amount of perspiration that can evaporate from the skin.

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Usage

What does humidity mean? Humidity is the state of air when it’s full of water vapor.Humidity is the noun form of the adjective humid, which is used to describe moist air—air that’s full of water vapor.Humidity is most commonly used in reference to weather or the general climate of a place, especially when the temperature is hot.Example: The humidity here in summertime is almost unbearable.

Etymology

Origin of humidity

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English humydite, from Latin (h)ūmiditās; equivalent to humid + -ity

Compare meaning

How does humidity compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• humidity vs. dew point

Example Sentences

The authors also point out that "high humidity significantly reduces the effectiveness of evaporative cooling -- the primary mechanism honey bees use to regulate hive temperatures -- potentially making thermoregulation even more difficult."

From Science Daily

"More heat means more humidity, stronger rainfall, and higher wind speeds -- climate change is already contributing to extreme weather," he said.

From Barron's

This limitation matters because stomata respond quickly to changes in light, temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide levels.

From Science Daily

Over the first weekend of the January fires, firefighters were able make progress with the help of calmer winds and higher humidity.

From Los Angeles Times

“The temperature drops and the relative humidity goes up, the winds die down, flames drop to the ground and it starts creeping along,” Hanson said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• evaporation
• moisture