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.
However, abiotic fatty acids do tend to be smaller in size than 12 carbon atoms. Keith Cooper, Space.com, 25 Mar. 2025 The Biotic and Abiotic Factors of High-Performing Teams In biological ecosystems, success depends on both biotic factors (the living organisms) and abiotic factors (the non-living environmental conditions). Scott Hutcheson, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025 Samples with microbes ended up in one chamber, the L-serine in the other, and the barrier, formed using a gel, was formulated to be permeable to microbes but impenetrable by abiotic particles. Ars Technica, 12 Feb. 2025 However, this research demonstrates that oxygen can also form through abiotic processes, or processes that aren't rooted in living organisms. Victoria Corless, Space.com, 2 Jan. 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 5 Apr. 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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