humidity

American  

[hyoo-mid-i-tee, yoo-] / hyuˈmɪd ɪ ti, yu- /

noun

1. humid condition; moistness; dampness.

2. relative humidity.

3. an uncomfortably high amount of relative humidity.

   It's not the heat, it's the humidity that tires me out.

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humidity British  

/ hjuːˈmɪdɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state of being humid; dampness

2. a measure of the amount of moisture in the air See relative humidity absolute humidity

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humidity Scientific  

/ hyo̅o̅-mĭd′ĭ-tē /

1. The amount of water vapor in the atmosphere, usually expressed as either absolute humidity or relative humidity.

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humidity Cultural  

1. The amount of water vapor in the air. Humidity is measured in two ways: (1) Absolute humidity is the percentage of water vapor actually present in the air. (2) Relative humidity is the absolute humidity divided by the amount of water that could be present in the air. Relative humidity indicates the degree of comfort or discomfort one feels from the humidity, because it indicates the amount of perspiration that can evaporate from the skin.

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Usage

What does humidity mean? Humidity is the state of air when it’s full of water vapor.Humidity is the noun form of the adjective humid, which is used to describe moist air—air that’s full of water vapor.Humidity is most commonly used in reference to weather or the general climate of a place, especially when the temperature is hot.Example: The humidity here in summertime is almost unbearable.

Etymology

Origin of humidity

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English humydite, from Latin (h)ūmiditās; equivalent to humid + -ity

Compare meaning

How does humidity compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• humidity vs. dew point

Example Sentences

Dust, high temperatures and low humidity throughout the dry season are thought to damage the back of the throat and give the bacteria a route into the body.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

Served over ice in a short glass and topped with fruit-salad flotsam, the elixir is lightly caffeinated, mildly fruity and as refreshing as stepping out of the Hanoi humidity into full-blast air conditioning.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

At least you are not concerned about the humidity.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 13, 2026

According to Munday, the approach works best in regions with low humidity and consistently clear skies.

From Science Daily • Feb. 27, 2026

Mother noticed a machine in the corner of the room that monitored humidity levels.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

Related Words

• evaporation
• moisture