biodiversity

noun

bio·​di·​ver·​si·​ty ˌbī-(ˌ)ō-də-ˈvər-sə-tē How to pronounce biodiversity (audio)
-dī-
: biological diversity in an environment as indicated by numbers of different species of plants and animals
biodiverse adjective

Did you know?

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

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.
As Down to Earth enters its fourth year, the urgency surrounding the global biodiversity crisis has never been more apparent. Paige Vega, Vox, 21 Jan. 2025 Thousands of miles away, in Madagascar, a nation celebrated for its biodiversity— yet vulnerable to climate change— agriculture sustains over 80% of the population. Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025 However, there are concerns about biodiversity loss linked to forestry. Maddy Savage, TIME, 18 Jan. 2025 This section of reef — categorized as coral reefs at depths between 100 and 500 feet — provides safety and refuge to creatures not found closer to the surface, and holds a wealth of undiscovered biodiversity. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for biodiversity 

Word History

Etymology

bio- + diversity

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of biodiversity was in 1985

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near biodiversity

Cite this Entry

“Biodiversity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biodiversity. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

biodiversity

noun
bio·​di·​ver·​si·​ty -də-ˈvər-sət-ē How to pronounce biodiversity (audio)
-dī-
: biological variety in an environment as indicated by numbers of different species of plants and animals

More from Merriam-Webster on biodiversity

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!