Humidity Definition, Usage & Related Terms Explained

Meaning 1：moisture in the air (humidity)

humidity 🔊

/hjuːˈmɪdɪti/

The amount of water vapor in the air. High humidity makes the air feel damp and sticky.

Humidity meter showing high reading with hazy summer day background, illustrating muggy air conditions

moisture in the air 🔊

➕

/ˈmɔɪstʃər ɪn ðə ˈɛr/

Humidity refers to the concentration of water vapor present in the air, which affects how damp or sticky the air feels.

📁 Category：Natural Geography 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'humidus' (moist) + '-ity' noun suffix.

💡 Mnemonic

Humidity makes the air feel like a wet blanket.

📖 Example

After running in the summer heat, the humidity made my shirt cling to my skin. 🔊 The high moisture content in the air caused my shirt to stick to my skin after I ran on a hot summer day.

🔗 Collocations

high humidity – a large amount of moisture in the air

relative humidity – the ratio of current absolute humidity to the highest possible absolute humidity

humidity level – the measurement of moisture in the air

🔄 Synonyms

dampness (n.) – slight wetness, especially in the air

moisture (n.) – water or other liquid in small quantities in the air or on a surface

mugginess (n.) – unpleasantly warm and humid air

🚫 Antonyms

dryness (n.) – the state of being free from moisture

aridity (n.) – extreme dryness, especially of the air or climate

🌱 Derivatives

humid (adj.) – having a high amount of moisture in the air

humidify (v.) – to add moisture to the air

humidifier (n.) – a device that increases humidity in a room

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'humidity' originates from Latin 'humidus' meaning 'moist', via Old French 'humidité'. It is commonly used in meteorology to describe air moisture levels.