habitation
gb/hˌæbətˈeɪʃən/ us/hˌæbətˈeɪʃən/
B2
English
~ 27400
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
B2
state
1
state of living in a place
The fact that people or animals live in a place.
Usage pattern:
the habitation of [a place]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "habitation" with "habitat". "Habitation" is the state of living in a place, especially for people, while "habitat" is the natural home of an animal, plant, or other organism. Many learners also try to use "habitation" where native speakers would simply say "living" or "life" (e.g., "life on Mars" is more natural than "habitation on Mars").
Synonyms
occupation (More common in legal or property contexts, often about using or controlling land or a building.)
|
residence (Focuses on living in a place, especially as your home; slightly less formal and more common than "habitation".)
|
inhabitation (Very close in meaning but less commonly used; can sound more technical or old-fashioned.)
Antonyms
abandonment (Describes the act or state of leaving a place empty, which contrasts with continuing habitation.)
|
desertion (Emphasizes that a place has been left by its former inhabitants and is no longer lived in.)
Collocations
fit for human habitation
|suitable for habitation
|unfit for habitation
|signs of habitation
|evidence of habitation
|areas of human habitation
Themes
housing
|environment
|law
|nature
Examples
- Large parts of the region are no longer fit for human habitation after the chemical spill.
- Scientists found evidence of ancient habitation along the riverbank.
- The law sets minimum standards for buildings that are used for human habitation.
- There were no signs of habitation anywhere in the frozen landscape.
- The spacecraft is designed for long-term habitation in orbit.
Learner examples
- The island is not safe for human habitation.
- They found old tools that showed past habitation of the cave.
- This house is too damaged for habitation.
- We saw no habitation in the desert area.
- The town grew as more land became suitable for habitation.
unknown
formal
C1
entity
2
a dwelling or place to live
A building or place where people live; a home or dwelling.
Usage pattern:
a habitation for [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "habitation" in everyday speech where a native speaker would say "house" or "home". "Habitation" sounds formal or technical and is more common in writing, history, or science than in daily conversation.
Synonyms
dwelling (Common formal word for a place where someone lives, especially in official or legal language.)
|
residence (Formal term for someone’s home, often used in legal, official, or polite contexts.)
|
home (Much more common everyday word; focuses more on personal feeling than on the building itself.)
Antonyms
wilderness (Refers to an area with no houses or settlements, contrasting with a place of human habitation.)
|
uninhabited building (Describes a structure where no one lives, which is the opposite of a habitation.)
Collocations
small habitations
|temporary habitations
|rural habitations
|primitive habitations
|scattered habitations
Themes
housing
|architecture
|daily_life
Examples
- The only habitation for miles around was a small stone cottage.
- Archaeologists uncovered the remains of simple habitations from the Bronze Age.
- They built temporary habitations to shelter the workers during the project.
- From the air, we could see scattered habitations dotting the valley floor.
- The storm destroyed several fragile habitations along the coast.
Learner examples
- There was just one habitation near the road.
- Old habitations were found under the new city.
- The farmers built simple habitations in the hills.
- We saw many small habitations by the river.
- That island has no human habitations.
Grammar
Dictionary form
habitation
IPA
GB/hˌæbətˈeɪʃən/
US/hˌæbətˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
hab - it - a - tion (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (a)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: habitation
- Plural: habitation, habitations
Word family
Forms
habitations
noun
Core family
Related words
habitat
noun B1
Negative and opposite forms
uninhabited
adjective
uninhabitable
adjective
Advanced or less common
inhabitable
adjective
Expressions
fit for human habitation
1/fˈɪt fɚ hjˈumən hˌæbətˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
safe and suitable to live in
Good and safe enough for people to live in.
Examples
- The court ruled that the apartment was not fit for human habitation.
- After major repairs, the building is finally fit for human habitation again.
human habitation
1/hjˈumən hˌæbətˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
people living in a place
The fact that people live in a place.
Examples
- The island showed no signs of human habitation.
- This area is the highest point of human habitation in the country.
signs of habitation
1/sˈaɪnz əv hˌæbətˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
evidence that somewhere is lived in
Things you can see that show people or animals live or lived in a place.
Examples
- We saw no signs of habitation anywhere in the desert.
- The explorers found clear signs of habitation near the riverbank.
suitable for habitation
1/sˈutəbəl fɚ hˌæbətˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
conditions allow living there
Having conditions that make it possible and reasonable for people or animals to live there.
Examples
- Scientists believe only a small part of the planet is suitable for habitation.
- The valley is one of the few areas suitable for habitation in this harsh region.
unfit for human habitation
1/ʌnfˈɪt fɚ hjˈumən hˌæbətˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
not suitable to live in
Not safe or good enough for people to live in.
Examples
- Inspectors declared the house unfit for human habitation because of serious mold.
- Many older buildings in the area are now unfit for human habitation.