abiotic

/eɪbaɪˈɑɾɪk/

/eɪbaɪˈɒtɪk/

In science, anything abiotic is not alive. Abiotic factors in an ecosystem are things like temperature, ocean currents, and humidity.

Abiotic elements play an important role in the world, in a variety of ways. Everything that isn't living, and never was living, is considered abiotic—from the sand on the beach and boulders on a mountain to the sunlight from above and the mineral makeup of the soil beneath your feet. Abiotic comes from the prefix a-, "without," and biotic, "pertaining to life."

Definitions of abiotic

1. adjective

   not involving, containing, or derived from living organisms
   antonyms:

   biotic

   of or relating to living organisms