habitable

adjective

hab·​it·​able ˈha-bə-tə-bəl 

 also  hə-ˈbi-tə-

: capable of being lived in : suitable for habitation

habitability

ˌha-bə-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

habitableness

ˈha-bə-tə-bəl-nes 

noun

habitably

ˈha-bə-tə-blē 

 also  hə-ˈbi-tə-

adverb

Synonyms

• inhabitable
• livable
• liveable

Examples of habitable in a Sentence

The house is not habitable.

the frigid Arctic is not habitable for amphibians and reptiles—or for humans, either, for that matter

Recent Examples on the Web

Perhaps more importantly, in 2022, the telescope has also provided us with the first glimpses of rocky exoplanets inside what astronomers call the habitable zone. —Lisa Kaltenegger, WIRED, 5 Dec. 2024

Researchers estimate that animal agriculture is responsible for between 15 and 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and takes up more than a third of the planet’s habitable land. —Izzie Ramirez, Vox, 21 Nov. 2024

Now, new evidence suggests the planet was habitable for even longer than previously thought, due to the presence of a global magnetic field. —Devika Rao, theweek, 18 Nov. 2024

After landing in February 2021, Perseverance has spent the ensuing years scouring the Martian soil and rocks for evidence that the planet was once habitable. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

habitable

adjective

hab·​it·​able ˈhab-ət-ə-bəl 

: suitable or fit to live in

a habitable cave

habitability

ˌhab-ət-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

Legal Definition

habitable

adjective

hab·​it·​able ˈha-bi-tə-bəl 

: suitable and fit for a person to live in : free of defects that endanger the health and safety of occupants see also warranty of habitability at warranty

habitability

ˌha-bi-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

habitableness noun

habitably adverb