humidity
Americannoun
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humid condition; moistness; dampness.
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an uncomfortably high amount of relative humidity.
It's not the heat, it's the humidity that tires me out.
noun
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the state of being humid; dampness
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a measure of the amount of moisture in the air See relative humidity absolute humidity
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:
Explanation
Humidity has to do with how much moisture is in the air. High humidity is a lot of moisture; low humidity is not much at all. Humidity is a word you'll hear if you watch a weather report, and it's also something people love to complain about. When it's hot and there's a lot of humidity, people sweat a lot — it's uncomfortable, sticky, and your hair is likely to frizz. When the humidity gets really high, there's going to be some rain or snow. In some parts of the country, people have a saying about yucky summer weather: "It's not the heat — it's the humidity."
Vocabulary lists containing humidity
Unit 1: Telling Details
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Physical Geography - Introductory
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Weather and Climate - Introductory
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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.
And before that, Sinner had been forced to retire in China as he staggered through crushing humidity.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026
"We've had to purchase a hermetically sealed case, which makes sure the humidity is correct because they are very delicate," said Tim Payne, trustee of the heritage centre.
From BBC • May 26, 2026
The National Weather Service warned Wednesday that moderate to locally strong winds and low humidity would elevate the risk of fire in inland areas of L.A.
From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026
Researchers sorted each day in the dataset into one of five weather patterns based on atmospheric pressure, humidity, wind, and temperature.
From Science Daily • May 14, 2026
The morning was still cool, but humidity was already creeping into the air, promising an uncomfortable day.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
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.
