ecosystem
EE-koh-sihs-tuhm
Ecosystem (noun) means a community of living things together with the physical environment they interact with. Example: “Coral reefs support one of the richest ecosystems on Earth.”
noun
1
A community of living things together with the physical environment they interact with.
"Coral reefs support one of the richest ecosystems on Earth."
"A small pond is a complete ecosystem with plants, insects, frogs and fish."
"Pollution can upset the delicate balance of a forest ecosystem."
2
A network of interconnected people, companies, or products that function together like a natural ecosystem.
"The company’s ecosystem mainly comprises its supply chain, customers, end consumers and competitors."
"There is a certain duality in how the Hindutva ecosystem is pushing the anti-hijab discourse into the mainstream."
— Angshuman Choudhury, Hijab ban: How some liberals are sleepwalking into the trap set by Hindutva nationalists (2022)
"Apple has built a tightly connected ecosystem of devices and services."
"The result, as Maria Farrell and Robin Berjon put it in a striking essay in Noema magazine, is that our online spaces are no longer open ecosystems."
— John Naughton, The internet is in decline – it needs rewilding (2024)
"The city's startup ecosystem includes investors, universities and many small software firms."
"Developers are joining the app's ecosystem because so many customers already use it."
How to use ecosystem
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA self-contained system of living things and their surroundings — or, more loosely, any tightly connected network of people, products, or businesses.
Common pairings
fragile ecosystem
business ecosystem
app ecosystem
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Word forms
- Plural
- ecosystems
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Coral reefs support one of the richest _____ on Earth.
Etymology
Coined in 1935 by the English botanist Arthur Tansley from "eco-" plus "system," describing how living organisms and their environment function as one connected whole.
Synonyms
View more →
biome
habitat network
Related words
Rhymes for ecosystem
See all rhymes for ecosystem →Frequently asked questions
What does “ecosystem” mean?
The word “ecosystem” means a community of living things together with the physical environment they interact with. In plain terms, a self-contained system of living things and their surroundings — or, more loosely, any tightly connected network of people, products, or businesses.
How do you pronounce “ecosystem”?
“Ecosystem” is pronounced EE-koh-sihs-tuhm (/ˈikoʊˌsɪstəm/ in IPA).
How do you use “ecosystem” in a sentence?
Here is “ecosystem” used in a sentence: “Coral reefs support one of the richest ecosystems on Earth.”
What part of speech is “ecosystem”?
“Ecosystem” is a noun.
Where does the word “ecosystem” come from?
The word “ecosystem” dates back to around 1935. Coined in 1935 by the English botanist Arthur Tansley from "eco-" plus "system," describing how living organisms and their environment function as one connected whole.
Is “ecosystem” a common word?
“Ecosystem” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “ecosystem” have?
“Ecosystem” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a community of living things together with the physical environment they interact with.
What is the difference between an ecosystem and a habitat?
A habitat is the specific physical environment where an organism lives, while an ecosystem is the entire community of living things together with the physical environment they interact with, including multiple habitats and species. An ecosystem is therefore a broader concept than a single habitat.
Can ecosystem be used outside of biology?
Yes, ecosystem is also used to describe a network of interconnected people, companies, or products that function together, such as a 'tech ecosystem' or a 'business ecosystem.' This figurative use borrows the idea of interdependent parts working as a whole from its biological meaning.
What is the difference between an ecosystem and the environment?
The environment refers broadly to the surroundings in which living things exist, while an ecosystem specifically describes the community of living things together with that environment, emphasizing how they interact. An ecosystem is essentially a functional unit within the wider environment.
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