Abiotic
/ˌeɪ.baɪˈɒt.ɪk/noun
Relating to the nonliving physical and chemical parts of the environment.
Did you know?Abiotic is built from Greek roots meaning “not” and “life,” and in ecology it names the silent, nonliving powers that can make or break an ecosystem.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
a- + biōtikos
“not living; pertaining to life”
Late Latin
Latin
bioticus
“pertaining to life”
19th Century
English
abiotic
“nonliving; not derived from living organisms”
Modern English
English
abiotic
“relating to the nonliving components of an environment”
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