evapotranspiration

noun

evapo·​trans·​pi·​ra·​tion i-ˈva-pō-ˌtran(t)-spə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce evapotranspiration (audio)
: loss of water from the soil both by evaporation and by transpiration from the plants growing thereon

Examples of evapotranspiration 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.
Unlike humans, plants bring water from their roots and release it into the air in a process known as evapotranspiration. — Addy Bink, The Hill, 22 July 2025 These changes in the weather increase evapotranspiration and lower soil moisture. — Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025 Deep roots create channels that allow water to move into the soil, while leaves help return moisture to the atmosphere via evapotranspiration. — Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 12 June 2026 All crops with a vascular system can experience evapotranspiration, but summer crops are the most common, Basso said. — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 24 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for evapotranspiration

Word History

Etymology

evaporation + transpiration

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of evapotranspiration was in 1938

Rhymes for evapotranspiration

See All Rhymes for evapotranspiration

Browse Nearby Words

evaporize
evapotranspiration
Evarts
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Evapotranspiration.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/evapotranspiration. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on evapotranspiration

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about evapotranspiration

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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All