abiotic

adjective

abi·​ot·​ic ˌā-(ˌ)bī-ˈä-tik How to pronounce abiotic (audio)
: not biotic : abiological
the abiotic environment

Examples of abiotic in a Sentence

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.
Yet Kwok sticks by his assertion that abiotic process that can produce dimethyl sulfide are common and effective. Bruce Dorminey, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025 This strengthens the abiotic conditions that sustain cognitive diversity. Scott Hutcheson, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025 Both researchers emphasize that scientists don’t know nearly enough about K2-18 b to determine whether any dimethyl sulfide found in its atmosphere was produced by living organisms—or by abiotic happenstance of the kind that led to their own observations. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 17 Apr. 2025 However, abiotic fatty acids do tend to be smaller in size than 12 carbon atoms. Keith Cooper, Space.com, 25 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for abiotic

Word History

Etymology

a- entry 2 + biotic

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of abiotic was in 1870

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Abiotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abiotic. Accessed 9 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

abiotic

adjective
abi·​ot·​ic ˌā-bī-ˈät-ik How to pronounce abiotic (audio)
: not living or composed of living things
water and rock are abiotic

Medical Definition

abiotic

adjective
abi·​ot·​ic ˌā-(ˌ)bi-ˈät-ik How to pronounce abiotic (audio)
: not biotic : abiological
the abiotic environment
abiotically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on abiotic

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