ecosystem
/ˈiː.kəʊˌsɪs.təm/ IELTSAcademic
noun
An ecosystem is a community of living things and the place they live in. The living things and their environment affect each other.
- The river ecosystem is under pressure.
- A healthy ecosystem supports many species.
- Human activity can damage the ecosystem.
Adinary Nuance
An ecosystem is broader than a habitat. A habitat is the place an organism lives, but an ecosystem includes the living things, the environment, and their interactions. It is also more specific than environment, which can mean any surrounding conditions, not just a natural living system.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- hệ sinh thái
- Spanish
- ecosistema
- Chinese
- 生态系统
- Japanese
- 生態系
- Korean
- 생태계
Etymology
Ecosystem comes from ecology and system. It was first used in English in the 1930s to describe living things and their environment together.
Common phrases
natural ecosystemmarine ecosystemurban ecosystemfragile ecosystem
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between ecosystem and habitat?
- A habitat is the home of one species. An ecosystem includes the habitat plus other living things and their links.
- Is ecosystem used only in science?
- No. People also use it for business, technology, and social systems.
- Can I say 'digital ecosystem'?
- Yes. It means connected digital tools, platforms, and users working together.
- Is ecosystem a common IELTS word?
- Yes. It is common in academic reading, science, and environment topics.