climate

UK: /ˈklaɪmət/ US: /ˈklaɪmɪt/ ,(klī′mit)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

cli•mate /ˈklaɪmɪt/   n. [countable]

1. Meteorology the general weather conditions of a region, averaged over a series of years:
   The climate in that country was cloudy, cool, or cold.
2. Meteorology a region or area that has a given climate:
   Dad retired to live in a warm climate.
3. the general attitudes or conditions of a group, period, or place:
   a climate of political unrest.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

cli•mate  (klī′mit), n. 

1. Meteorology the composite or generally prevailing weather conditions of a region, as temperature, air pressure, humidity, precipitation, sunshine, cloudiness, and winds, throughout the year, averaged over a series of years.
2. Meteorology a region or area characterized by a given climate:
   to move to a warm climate.
3. the prevailing attitudes, standards, or environmental conditions of a group, period, or place:
   a climate of political unrest.

• Greek klīmat-, stem of klí̄ma slope, equivalent. to klī- (akin to klí̄nein to slope, lean) + -ma noun, nominal suffix
• Latin clīmat- (stem of clīma)
• 1350–1400 for earlier senses; 1595–1605 for def. 2; Middle English climat

Synonyms

• 3. mood, atmosphere, spirit, tone, temper.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

climate / ˈklaɪmɪt/ noun

1. the long-term prevalent weather conditions of an area, determined by latitude, position relative to oceans or continents, altitude, etc
2. an area having a particular kind of climate
3. a prevailing trend or current of feeling: the political climate

Etymology: 14th Century: from Late Latin clima, from Greek klima inclination, region; related to Greek klinein to lean

climatic / klaɪˈmætɪk/, cliˈmatical, ˈclimatal adjective

cliˈmatically adverb

USAGE
Climatic is sometimes wrongly used where climactic is meant. Climatic is properly used to talk about things relating to climate; climactic is used to describe something which forms a climax