biodiversity
noun
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Biodiversity may become the rallying call for the next decade, wrote David Wake in the journal Science in 1989. Indeed, biodiversity is a word you're likely to encounter in writing about ecology and the environment today. But when Wake used it, "biodiversity" was still a relatively new addition to the English language, having first appeared in writing in the mid-1980s. Of course, the roots of biodiversity are much older. It evolved from a commingling of the descendants of the Greek noun bios, which means "mode of life," and the Latin verb divertere, which means "to turn aside" or "to go different ways."
Examples of biodiversity in a Sentence
Natasha Gural, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
This discovery highlights the unique biodiversity hidden even in the deepest parts of our ocean and how the isolation of trench environments can breed unique adaptations.
—Jess Thomson, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Wetlands also support wildlife such as aquatic animals, amphibians, reptiles and insects; a decline in biodiversity can cause large losses for the region’s thriving outdoor recreation, tourism, hunting and fishing industries.
—Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 9 Dec. 2024
That's according to researchers from the University of Oviedo in Spain, who were completing an eco-monitoring program to analyze the biodiversity of insects affected by the trapping of the yellow-legged hornet, whose scientific name is vespa velutina.
—Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 5 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Biodiversity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biodiversity. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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biodiversity
noun
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