habitat

noun

hab·​i·​tat ˈha-bə-ˌtat 

1

a

: the place or environment where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives and grows

b

: the typical place of residence of a person or a group

the arctic habitat of the Inuit

c

: a housing for a controlled physical environment in which people can live under surrounding inhospitable conditions (as under the sea)

2

: the place where something is commonly found

has its natural habitat in university, in government, or in industrial laboratories

—B. B. Watson

Synonyms

• home
• niche
• range
• territory

Examples of habitat in a Sentence

a forest in California is set aside to preserve the unique brushy, rugged habitat required by nesting California condors

Recent Examples on the Web

These highly efficient systems, designed to process CO2 in space habitats, are now being scaled for industrial use. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025

Birch Aquarium’s efforts will serve as a case study on whether this better equips frogs for survival in their natural habitats. —Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025

Nothing can compare to seeing animals in their majestic glory, roaming about their natural habitats. —Ronny Maye, Essence, 28 Mar. 2025

The virus can be spread by migrating waterfowl, and sandhill cranes passing through central Nebraska often share their Platte River habitat with geese, swans, ducks and more than 20 other bird species. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, it inhabits, from habitare

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for habitat

• acrobat
• autocrat
• automat
• bundesrat
• bureaucrat
• butterfat
• caveat
• chemostat
• copycat
• cryostat
• democrat
• diplomat

Kids Definition

habitat

noun

hab·​i·​tat ˈhab-ə-ˌtat 

: the place or type of place where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives or grows

Medical Definition

habitat

noun

hab·​i·​tat ˈhab-ə-ˌtat 

1

: the place or environment where a plant or animal naturally occurs

the human pubic region is the natural habitat of the crab louse

2

: a housing for a controlled physical environment in which people can live surrounded by inhospitable conditions (as under the sea)