Meaning & use

ecosystem

noun·Academic

The living things in an area together with their nonliving surroundings and the ways they interact.

See it in a sentence

The pond ecosystem includes insects, plants, water, and sediment.

A change in rainfall can affect the whole forest ecosystem.

A note on using this word

An ecosystem includes nonliving parts, such as water and temperature, as well as organisms.

Words with a similar meaning

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