Synonyms of habitat
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

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
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.
Forests clear the air and filter water, provide tourism and timber, and habitat for birds and other wildlife, the researchers noted. Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 3 July 2026 They were killed for their feathers, eggs, and meat, while their wetlands habitat was destroyed for development and agriculture. Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 6 July 2026 But those ecosystems are imperiled by warming oceans, pollution, habitat loss and overfishing. ABC News, 6 July 2026 The Navy’s most ambitious underwater habitat was shuttered just as space exploration was reaching new heights. Bill Gourgey, Popular Science, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for habitat

Word History

Etymology

Latin, it inhabits, from habitare

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of habitat was in 1796

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Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

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

Medical Definition

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)

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