abiotic

A1B3I1O1T1I1C3
US/ˌeɪ.baɪˈɑt.ɪk/

adjective

Nonliving, inanimate, characterised by the absence of life; of inorganic matter.

“Near-synonyms: nonbiological, nonbiologic”

Similar
nonbiologicalnonbiologic
OriginAncient Greek ἀ- →
Less commonFirst used mid-20th c.Scrabble 11
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Meanings

adjectiveabiotic (not comparable)
  1. not comparableNonliving, inanimate, characterised by the absence of life; of inorganic matter.First known use mid-20th c.

    Near-synonyms: nonbiological, nonbiologic

    Synonyms: nonbiological, nonbiologic

  2. not comparableTending to inhibit or destroy life; antibiotic; incompatible with life.First known use mid-20th c.
nounabiotic (plural abiotics)

plural abiotics

  1. Any such material

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveNonliving, inanimate, characterised by the absence of life; of inorganic matter.

Similar
nonbiologicalnonbiologic
Also see
nonbiological

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekβιωτικός“of life”
  2. Ancient Greekἀ-
  3. Englishabiotic

First attested in 1874. From a- + biotic, the first element from Ancient Greek ἀ- (a-) and the second from Ancient Greek βιωτικός (biōtikós, “of life”), from βίος (bíos, “life”) + -ῐκός (-ĭkós).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic لَا حَيَاتِيّ
  • لَا حَيَاتِيّ (lā ḥayātiyy)Of inorganic matter
Catalan abiòtic
  • abiòticNonliving
Czech abiotický
  • abiotickýNonliving
Dutch abiotisch, levenloos
  • abiotischNonliving
  • levenloosNonliving
  • ongeschikt voor levenOf inorganic matter
Finnish abioottinen, abioottinen
  • abioottinenNonliving
  • abioottinenOf inorganic matter
French abiotique
  • abiotiqueNonliving
German abiotisch
  • abiotischNonliving
Greek αβιοτικός
  • αβιοτικός (aviotikós)Nonliving
Hungarian abiotikus
  • abiotikusNonliving
Indonesian abiotik
  • abiotikNonliving
Irish aibitheach
  • aibitheachNonliving
Māori ahuropikore
  • ahuropikoreNonliving
Norwegian Bokmål abiotisk, abiotisk
  • abiotiskNonliving
  • abiotiskOf inorganic matter
Polish abiotyczny, abiotyczny
  • abiotycznyNonliving
  • abiotycznyOf inorganic matter
Portuguese abiótico, abiótico
  • abióticoNonliving
  • abióticoOf inorganic matter
Romanian abiotic
  • abioticNonliving
Spanish abiótico
  • abióticoNonliving
Cite this entry
APA

abiotic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abiotic

MLA

“abiotic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abiotic. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “abiotic,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abiotic.

Source: abiotic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.