adjective

• 1Relating to the natural world and the impact of human activity on its condition.

  ‘acid rain may have caused major environmental damage’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Now that is the most significant environmental impact that humans can have on the planet.’
  • ‘There are also issues of its environmental impact, but it is nevertheless likely to be important.’
  • ‘In recent years, he has become as famous for his campaigning on environmental and human rights issues as for his music.’
  • ‘Trade should be conditional upon minimum environmental and human rights standards.’
  • ‘For the first time, environmental issues are at the heart of widespread popular activity.’
  • ‘Operators, public or private, have a clear responsibility to cause the minimum environmental impact.’
  • ‘Such are our numbers that almost inevitably waste, environmental impact and species extinction follow.’
  • ‘The alliance cites a variety of environmental and economic impacts in support of their position.’
  • ‘Councillors say that option would have less visual and environmental impact.’
  • ‘The consultants will then undertake an environmental impact report on behalf of the Council.’
  • ‘Their achievement is to have overcome being labelled cranks to make a real impact on the crucial environmental debate.’
  • ‘From an environmental, planning or human viewpoint this proposal is unacceptable.’
  • ‘Watch groups are run by willing and enthusiastic volunteers who organise the environmental activities.’
  • ‘Ironically, the principal lobby against completion of the road is its negative environmental impact.’
  • ‘Some EU countries are arguing that environmental degradation is a hidden subsidy on cheap exports.’
  • ‘In late June, state officials halved their ambitious plans and added new environmental protections to the leases.’
  • ‘The typical industrial sectors with relatively high environmental impact continue to lead in reporting.’
  • ‘They knew this was illegal, so publicly they said the meetings were about issues such as environmental protection.’
  • ‘They both concluded that there was very little difference in overall environmental impact.’
  • ‘They also identified militarism as the cause of much environmental degradation.’

  Synonyms

  natural, atmospheric, meteorological, environmental

  1. 1.1Aiming or designed to promote the protection of the natural world.
     ‘environmental tourism’
     More example sentences

     • ‘The former team proposed the most overtly environmental design of any of the finalists.’
     • ‘It is part of efforts to promote environmental and economic redevelopment in the area.’
     • ‘Student environmental activists were delighted by the news of the University's decision.’
     • ‘An environmental activist found a place in this list along with quite a few history sheeters.’
     • ‘It was the first time environmental activists had been sent to prison, and it really inspired people.’
     • ‘I am one of those environmental activists who recognise we live on a planet of finite resources.’
     • ‘As environmental groups have long stressed, the government cannot build its way out of congestion.’

• 2Relating to or arising from a person's surroundings.

  ‘environmental noise’

  More example sentences

  • ‘A large proportion of the rhythmically regulated genes also directly respond to environmental stress.’
  • ‘The same applies to the meridian programmes and to the specific environmental stresses, colours and trauma.’
  • ‘Chilling temperature is one of the most studied environmental factors in plant stress physiology research.’
  • ‘All plants display this ability to tolerate environmental stress to varying degrees.’
  • ‘By amplifying speech or environmental noise, hearing aids can also be effective in many cases.’
  • ‘High salinity is one of the most important environmental stresses impeding crop growth.’
  • ‘Plants are continually exposed to environmental fluctuations that lead to oxidative stress.’
  • ‘Drought is an environmental factor that produces water deficit or water stress in plants.’
  • ‘In my experience the worst environmental factor is fine dust.’
  • ‘Allow the flooring to adjust to its new environmental conditions before you start the installation.’
  • ‘Rapid phenotypic changes are expected to occur in invasive species in response to new environmental conditions.’
  • ‘A number of genes as well as environmental factors also may play a role.’
  • ‘Leaf ageing has a significant effect on photosynthesis even when environmental factors do not change.’
  • ‘Human health is heavily dependent on lifestyle habits and environmental conditions.’