What does acclimatable mean?
Acclimatable means able to become accustomed to a new environment or set of conditions. The term is especially common in biology, ecology, agriculture, and environmental science, where it may describe plants, animals, microorganisms, or species that can adjust to changes in temperature, altitude, climate, water conditions, or other local factors. For example, a plant variety described as acclimatable to drought must be capable of adjusting to reduced water availability, not merely enduring it briefly. The word concerns a capacity for adjustment: after acclimatization, an organism has become accustomed to its new surroundings. Although adaptable is often used similarly, it is broader and can refer to any ability to cope with changing circumstances. Acclimatable is therefore particularly useful when discussing an organism's physiological or biological adjustment to a new environment.
adjectiveAble to become accustomed to a new environment or set of conditions, especially changes in climate, temperature, altitude, or other local circumstances.
- Capable of becoming accustomed to a new environment or changed conditions.
"These seedlings are acclimatable to a wide range of growing conditions."
"The young plants proved acclimatable to the warmer greenhouse conditions."
"Researchers are investigating which reef species are most acclimatable to rising ocean temperatures."
Acclimatable describes not merely surviving a change, but settling comfortably into it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does acclimatable come from?
Acclimatable is an English formation based on acclimate, which came through French from the Latin verb acclimatare, meaning “to acclimate.” Its Latin base combines ad-, meaning “to” or “toward,” with clima, meaning “climate,” ultimately related to Greek klima. English subsequently developed related forms such as acclimatize, acclimation, and acclimatization.
Related word forms
How acclimatable is actually used
The word is most common in formal and scientific writing, especially in biology, ecology, agriculture, and environmental science. It describes a capacity to acclimatize rather than the completed process of having become accustomed.
Easily confused with acclimatable
Acclimatable specifically describes the capacity to become accustomed to environmental or climatic conditions, whereas adaptable more broadly means able to adjust to changing circumstances.