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noun Uncommon

biodiversity

beye-uh-deye-VUR-sih-tee

Biodiversity (noun) means the variety of plant and animal life found in a particular habitat or across the planet. Example: “Rainforests hold an extraordinary amount of biodiversity.”

noun
1
The variety of plant and animal life found in a particular habitat or across the planet.
"Rainforests hold an extraordinary amount of biodiversity."
"Farming practices have reduced biodiversity in the region."

How to use biodiversity

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishHow many different kinds of living things exist in a place — more variety means richer biodiversity.

Common pairings
loss of biodiversity protect biodiversity rich biodiversity

Word forms

biodiversities plural

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Rainforests hold an extraordinary amount of _____.

Etymology

A blend of "bio-" (life) and "diversity," popularised from the 1980s onward in conservation science.

· First attested 1980

Class of 1980 biodiversity joined the language around 1980.
See the full Class of 1980 →

Rhymes for biodiversity

See all rhymes for biodiversity →

Frequently asked questions

What does “biodiversity” mean?

The word “biodiversity” means the variety of plant and animal life found in a particular habitat or across the planet. In plain terms, how many different kinds of living things exist in a place — more variety means richer biodiversity.

How do you pronounce “biodiversity”?

“Biodiversity” is pronounced beye-uh-deye-VUR-sih-tee (/ˌbaɪoʊdəˈvɚsəti/ in IPA).

How do you use “biodiversity” in a sentence?

Here is “biodiversity” used in a sentence: “Rainforests hold an extraordinary amount of biodiversity.”

What part of speech is “biodiversity”?

“Biodiversity” is a noun.

Where does the word “biodiversity” come from?

The word “biodiversity” dates back to around 1980. A blend of "bio-" (life) and "diversity," popularised from the 1980s onward in conservation science.

Is “biodiversity” a common word?

“Biodiversity” is an uncommon word in modern English.

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