inhabitable

¹

[in-hab-i-tuh-buhl]

adjective

1. able or fit to be lived in.

   Through years of neglect and eventual disrepair, the larger portion of the city has utterly collapsed and is no longer inhabitable.

inhabitable

²

[in-hab-i-tuh-buhl]

adjective

1. unfit to live in; uninhabitable.

   People need to evacuate immediately, as rapidly dropping temperatures will make the whole area inhabitable by sundown.

Other Word Forms

• inhabitability noun
• noninhabitability noun
• noninhabitable adjective
• uninhabitability noun
• uninhabitable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of inhabitable¹

First recorded in 1400–50; inhabit ( def. ) + -able ( def. )

Origin of inhabitable²

First recorded in 1580–90; from French, from Latin inhabitābilis, from in- in- ³ ( def. ) + habitābilis habitable ( def. )

Example Sentences

“This is not about stopping anything. This is about requiring a safe and inhabitable property,” he said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

After weeks of uncertainty, Lee finally received word that the house, while intact, was no longer inhabitable.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The ADU was heavily damaged and was “red tagged,” meaning the building is inhabitable.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The Canarias Se Agota movement believes the numbers of tourists are excessive, making the islands less inhabitable for locals, impacting the environment and pushing up housing costs.

Read more on BBC

Mass evacuations following the October attack have, for now, sharply reduced its inhabitable footprint.

Read more on Seattle Times