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

Plans are now underway to carefully reintroduce the species, ensuring that their delicate population is given every chance to thrive in a habitat free from the invasive predators that nearly drove them to extinction. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025

Many species in this clade are endangered and confined to unique habitats, such as sandhills and scrub. —Andre A. Naranjo, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2025

This morning, about 5 inches of snow blanketed the Washington, D.C., area, including giant panda Bao Li and Qing Bao's outdoor habitats. —Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025

The noise pollution from ships and boats in their habitat and toxic pollutants that make their way up the food chain have also been extremely harmful. —Adeel Hassan, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, it inhabits, from habitare

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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)