environmental

American  

[en-vahy-ruhn-men-tl, -vahy-ern-] / ɛnˌvaɪ rənˈmɛn tl, -ˌvaɪ ərn- /

adjective

1. of or relating to the totality of things, conditions, influences, cultural forces, etc., that surround and shape the life of a person or a population.

   Investigators in the study will examine possible associations between aggressive prostate cancer and exposures to environmental stressors such as discrimination, early-life adversity, and segregation.

2. Ecology. of or relating to all the external conditions, such as air, water, minerals, and other organisms, that surround and affect any given organism, often specifically relating to human interaction with these conditions.

   She took 11 lake samples to identify the fish communities present there and the defining environmental factors, like dissolved oxygen, pH, and vegetation.

   Agriculture is now a dominant force behind many environmental threats, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and the degradation of land and fresh water.

3. of or being art that surrounds the viewer or involves the viewer’s participation, often on a grand scale and outdoors.

   Our programs include an exhibition of global art, public lectures on birds, and a collaborative outdoor installation of environmental art.

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Usage

What does environmental mean? Environmental means of or relating to all the things that surround us and influence our lives, as in For some people, environmental stressors included how crowded a room is and how loud the noise is. In ecology, environmental also means of or relating to all external conditions that surround an organism, such as air, water, and minerals. When someone talks about climate change and its environmental impact, they mean that as the average temperature of the Earth changes, it affects the environment, such as through soil erosion, flooding, and more. Less often, environmental describes something that surrounds the viewer or encourages their participation, as with some outdoor art. Example: The environmental damage this project will cause might be unreasonable.

Other Word Forms

• environmentally
  adverb
• interenvironmental
  adjective
• nonenvironmental
  adjective
• nonenvironmentally
  adverb
• preenvironmental
  adjective
• proenvironmental
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of environmental

environment ( def. ) + -al ¹ ( def. )

Explanation

Environmental is the adjective form of environment, referring to a surrounding area. The word is usually used to refer to our ecology and the forces that act to change it. The noun environment, meaning the "state of being environed," first appeared around 1600. The word as referring to our natural surroundings was first recorded in 1827, and the popular idea of environmental concern in an ecological sense first appeared in 1956. In recent decades, the movement toward environmental awareness has grown rapidly. In a 1997 interview, environmentalist Barry Commoner noted that "Environmental concern is now firmly embedded in public life."

Example Sentences

The Journal of Psychiatric Research findings added evidence that psychopathy is not shaped only by social and environmental experiences.

From Science Daily • May 10, 2026

"There was a small fire that has been extinguished, there are no casualties. There is no reported environmental impact," it said.

From Barron's • May 10, 2026

“We take our environmental responsibilities seriously and remain committed to safe, compliant, and transparent operations,” Formosa Plastics’ spokesperson said.

From Salon • May 10, 2026

Two months later, he recruited Steve Hoyt, another Cal Poly grad with a doctorate in environmental science, who has built a business on the Central Coast testing soil samples.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

It is the key to species adaptability and to healthy populations—providing the greatest chance for species survival when faced with external, environmental changes.

From "Camp Panda" by Catherine Thimmesh

Related Words

• coincidental
• inconclusive
• indirect