inhabitable

¹

[ in-hab-i-tuh-buhl ]

adjective

1. able or fit to be lived in:

   Through years of neglect and eventual disrepair, the larger portion of the city has utterly collapsed and is no longer inhabitable.

inhabitable

²

[ in-hab-i-tuh-buhl ]

adjective

1. unfit to live in; uninhabitable:

   People need to evacuate immediately, as rapidly dropping temperatures will make the whole area inhabitable by sundown.

Other Words From

• in·hab·it·a·bil·i·ty [in-hab-i-t, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], noun
• non·in·hab·it·a·bil·i·ty noun
• non·in·hab·it·a·ble adjective
• un·in·hab·it·a·bil·i·ty noun
• un·in·hab·it·a·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of inhabitable¹

First recorded in 1400–50; inhabit ( def ) + -able ( def )

Origin of inhabitable²

First recorded in 1580–90; from French, from Latin inhabitābilis, from in- in- ³( def ) + habitābilis habitable ( def )

Example Sentences

To their surprise, Blum said, the composition of mercury isotopes in the deep-sea fish strongly resembled that of fish inhabiting the upper 1,600 feet or so of the ocean.

From Popular-Science

The games reflect the two worlds the boys inhabit, one by day and the other at night.

From ProPublica

We know, for instance, of several occasions when fish and frogs have “rained” onto inhabited areas.

From Popular-Science

The adventure-filled island world of “Bugsnax” that they inhabit is a surprising, comic and enjoyable one, but the game of “Bugsnax” bugged me just enough to sap some of that enjoyment.

From Washington Post

Now research shows they also damage the forest soils they inhabit.

From Science News For Students

Only two soil types in the world are inhabitable for this root louse: one is sand, and the other is slate.

From The Daily Beast

But to make the country inhabitable, and to build towns, it must have cost immense labor.

From Project Gutenberg

Soon the fertile lowlands ended and they passed beyond the limit of the inhabitable region.

From Project Gutenberg

The distinguished lady considered that no cities were inhabitable except the capitals that have a court.

From Project Gutenberg

Bellerophon made this mountain inhabitable, and was therefore said to have killed the Chimæra.

From Project Gutenberg

Water-soaked, ill-smelling, but inhabitable, the old house again possessed a light and a hearth.

From Project Gutenberg