Definition of ENVIRONMENTS (original) (raw)
1
: the circumstances, objects, or conditions by which one is surrounded : the factors and influences that affect the growth, health, progress, functioning, etc., of someone or something
the home/school/office environment
a safe/supportive environment for children
in today's competitive business environment
plants grown in a controlled environment
an environment conducive to learning
Plenty of corner-office occupants want employees to return to the office, the environment in which they built their careers …—
The Economist
2
the environment : the natural world : the complex of physical, chemical, and biotic elements that exist in nature
Commonly, the environment is considered to consist of the atmosphere, water (lakes, dams, streams, oceans, etc.), soils, sediments, suspended sediments and biota.—Des W. Connell
… his devotion to "the environment" is unwavering. He refuses, for instance, to serve commercially bottled water, citing the obscene waste of fuel necessary to ship it from the Continent and the sheer excess of all that glass and plastic.—Joe Dolce
3
: the position or characteristic position of a linguistic element in a sequence
the phonetic environment of a speech sound
4
: a computer interface from which various tasks can be performed
a programming environment
environmentally
adverb
an environmentally sensitive wetland
products marked as environmentally friendly
Did you know?
Descending from the Middle French preposition environ “around,” environment , in its most basic meaning, is “that which surrounds.” When preceded by the and unmodified, it usually refers to the natural world (“please don’t litter if you care about _the environment_”). In a less physical, more extended sense, it may signify the circumstances and conditions that make up everyday life (“He grew up in a loving environment.”) The word may also be applied in highly specialized ways, denoting, for example, “the position of a linguistic element” (“how g gets pronounced in Italian depends upon its phonetic _environment_”) or “a computer interface from which various tasks can be performed” (“the app works in varied environments").
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for environment
the shocking decision was part of the background of the riots
setting suggests looking at real-life situations in literary or dramatic terms.
a militant reformer who was born into an unlikely social setting
environment applies to all the external factors that have a formative influence on one's physical, mental, or moral development.
the kind of environment that produces juvenile delinquents
milieu applies especially to the physical and social surroundings of a person or group of persons.
an intellectual milieu conducive to artistic experimentation
mise-en-scène strongly suggests the use of properties to achieve a particular atmosphere or theatrical effect.
a gothic thriller with a carefully crafted mise-en-scène
Examples of environment in a Sentence
He grew up in a loving environment. We're trying to create a better business environment. These animals were raised in a controlled environment. Many plants are unable to survive in such a harsh environment. Heredity and environment are both important. Pollution is bad for the environment.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Natural disasters force us to think about the diffuse damage caused by systemic neglect and unlivable environments over a period of time. —Catherine Coleman Flowers, TIME, 28 Jan. 2025 Bubb said that pilots operating in these conditions must undergo additional instruction to demonstrate their ability to manage the challenging environment. —Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025 Reviewers analyze applications using key criteria, including the significance and innovation of the research, the qualifications and training of the investigators, the feasibility and rigor of the study design, and the environment the work will be conducted in. —Aliasger K. Salem, The Conversation, 28 Jan. 2025 Just as support for Trump and deregulation is at odds with a desire for a healthy environment, so is an allergy to climate action. —Benji Jones, Vox, 28 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for environment 
Word History
First Known Use
1725, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of environment was in 1725
Dictionary Entries Near environment
Cite this Entry
“Environment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/environment. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
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Last Updated: 31 Jan 2025 - Updated example sentences
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