biotic

1 of 2

adjective

bi·​ot·​ic bī-ˈä-tik How to pronounce biotic (audio)
: of, relating to, or caused by living organisms
biotic diversity

-biotic

2 of 2

adjective combining form

: having a (specified) mode of life
endobiotic

Examples of biotic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Yet the biotic community thousands of feet off the ground and its impacts on global health is poorly understood. Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2024 These are all a set of models which emphasize the abiotic selective pressures on life forms, as opposed to the biotic ones. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 21 Apr. 2011 Abiotic plant disorders are environmental, and causes include wind, water, temperature, and soil pH. In comparison, biotic factors would include insects, mites, fungi, or bacteria. Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 17 Mar. 2022 The abyssal plains are strewn with mineral nodules that coalesce around biotic seeds such as sharks' teeth, accumulating cobalt and other metals integral to lithium-ion batteries. Amy Brady, Scientific American, 20 June 2023 See all Example Sentences for biotic 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'biotic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Greek biōtikos, from bioun

Adjective combining form

probably from New Latin -bioticus, from Greek biōtikos

First Known Use

Adjective

1892, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of biotic was in 1892

Dictionary Entries Near biotic

Cite this Entry

“Biotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biotic. Accessed 2 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

biotic

adjective
bi·​ot·​ic bī-ˈät-ik How to pronounce biotic (audio)
: of, relating to, or caused by living things

Medical Definition

biotic

adjective
bi·​ot·​ic bī-ˈät-ik How to pronounce biotic (audio)
: of or relating to life
especially : caused or produced by living beings

More from Merriam-Webster on biotic

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