English Reference
noun

habitation

n.
US /ˌhæbəˈteɪʃən/ UK /hˌæbɪtˈeɪʃən/ habi·ta·tion UK spelling habitation's, habitation's

  1. 01 C1 Advanced Formal

    a house or other building where people live.

    a physical place of abode or residence; a dwelling.

    Simple

    The old stone ruins showed no signs of recent human habitation.

    In context

    Archaeologists discovered evidence of permanent habitation dating back to the Neolithic period, including stone foundations and hearths.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Formal

    the act of living in a house or area.

    the state of inhabiting or occupying a space.

    Simple

    The building was declared unfit for habitation after the fire.

    In context

    The local council issued a notice stating that the property was no longer suitable for human habitation due to severe structural damage.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency DialectAmerican English

    a word used in some regions for a farm or plantation.

    a regional term for a farm, ranch, or plantation, specifically in Louisiana.

    Simple

    The family worked on a small habitation near the river for generations.

    In context

    Historical records from the region describe the daily operations of the habitation, detailing the crops grown and the labor required.


Etymology 1

From Middle English habitacioun, from Old French habitacion, abitacion (“act of dwelling”), from Latin habitātiōnem, accusative of Latin habitātiō.

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Louisiana French habitation.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin habitātiō
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated