What does “environment” mean?
- 1
nounthe natural world of land, air, water, plants and animals
Plastic waste is harming the environment.
- 2
nounthe conditions and surroundings where a person lives or works
Children need a safe and friendly environment to learn.
Environment at a glance
- Part of speech
- noun
- CEFR level
- B1 (intermediate)
- Pronunciation
- /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/ · in-VY-run-ment
How to use “environment” correctly
When it means nature, use “the”: “protect the environment”. Remember the “n” in the middle: environ-ment.
Common phrases with “environment”
- protect the environment
- work environment
- learning environment
Synonyms, opposites and related words
Synonyms (similar meaning)
- nature
- surroundings
- setting
Word family
- environmental
- environmentally
- environmentalist
“environment” is on these word lists
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