# abiotic

CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abiotic
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

describing things in nature that are not living, like soil, water, or air. These factors affect how plants and animals survive.

For teachers: relating to non-living components of an ecosystem or environment. Often used in ecological contexts to describe physical or chemical factors that influence living organisms.

## Examples

- The plant needs abiotic factors like sunlight and water to grow.
- Scientists study how changes in abiotic factors, such as temperature and pH, affect the local biodiversity.
- While biotic interactions like predation are well understood, the impact of abiotic stressors on coral reef resilience remains a critical area of research for marine biologists.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.