climate

American  

[klahy-mit] / ˈklaɪ mɪt /

noun

• climates
  plural

1. the composite or generally prevailing weather conditions of a region, as temperature, air pressure, humidity, precipitation, sunshine, cloudiness, and winds, throughout the year, averaged over a series of years.

2. a region or area characterized by a given climate.

   to move to a warm climate.

3. the prevailing attitudes, standards, or environmental conditions of a group, period, or place.

   a climate of political unrest.

   Synonyms:

   temper, tone, spirit, atmosphere, mood

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climate British  

/ ˈklaɪmɪt /

noun

1. the long-term prevalent weather conditions of an area, determined by latitude, position relative to oceans or continents, altitude, etc

2. an area having a particular kind of climate

3. a prevailing trend or current of feeling

   the political climate

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climate Scientific  

/ klī′mĭt /

1. The general or average weather conditions of a certain region, including temperature, rainfall, and wind. On Earth, climate is most affected by latitude, the tilt of the Earth's axis, the movements of the Earth's wind belts, the difference in temperatures of land and sea, and topography. Human activity, especially relating to actions relating to the depletion of the ozone layer, is also an important factor.

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climate Cultural  

1. A region's usual weather patterns. The climate at any point on Earth is determined by things such as the general movement of the atmosphere, the proximity of the oceans, and the altitude of the location.

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Usage

Climatic is sometimes wrongly used where climactic is meant. Climatic is properly used to talk about things relating to climate; climactic is used to describe something which forms a climax

Discover More

The climate also is affected by the sun, by changes in the orbit of the Earth, by plate tectonics, and by human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, which may lead to a greenhouse effect.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• subclimate
  noun
• climatic
  adjective
• climatically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• climates
  plural

Etymology

Origin of climate

First recorded in 1350–1400, for an earlier sense; 1595–1605 climate for def. 2; Middle English climat, from Latin clīmat- (stem of clīma ), from Greek klīmat- , stem of klī́ma “slope,” from klī́(nein) “to bend, lean, slope” + -ma, noun suffix

Explanation

The climate is the general weather in a particular region. Florida is known for its temperate climate. The word climate is also used figuratively to mean "the usual conditions," as in "It's a favorable climate for school reform." Climate descends from Greek klima "region, surface of the earth," and from klinein "to slope." The original use of the word climate in English was in reference to one of the sloping zones of the earth from the equator toward the poles. This meaning was often used to refer to weather conditions in a zone of the earth, which developed into the current meaning of "the weather."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

climate climates

While the exact cause of the glacial collapse is unclear, climate change is accelerating glacial melt worldwide, increasing the risk of such disasters.

From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026

Food prices remain a concern and there are fears they could rise following this summer's extreme weather, which resulted in poor crop yield, and as further climate changes are predicted.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

Europeans, who have warned the rest of the world for decades about climate change while neglecting to install air-conditioning in much of the Continent, baked all summer.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026

It also identifies the north-south dipole circulation over East Antarctica as an important link connecting tropical climate conditions with changes in Antarctic ice mass.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 6, 2026

How does the Cuban missile crisis compare with twenty-first-century threats such as terrorism, climate change, and pandemic disease?

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

At sites in extreme climates, or during a heat wave, chill airflow or water evaporation is still necessary.

From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026

According to the announcement, on Sunday a new MrBeast video will follow Donaldson and his crew as they attempt to survive “some of the most extreme and treacherous climates on Earth.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026

"We are seeing the emergence of new warmer climates," explained Mike Kendon, climate scientist at the Met Office.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

Paper-based products of the future, the company says, could be made with hesperaloe, a plant with long, pointy leaves that grows in arid climates.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

The article described a fungus, Rhizoctonia leguminicola, which commonly grows on many species of legumes during the summer months in soggy climates.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer

Related Words

• atmosphere
• environment
• feeling
• mood
• surroundings
• trend