Environment vs. Nature — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 19, 2023
"Environment" refers to the surroundings in which organisms live and interact, including both natural and man-made elements, while "Nature" denotes the natural world or the inherent characteristics of something.
Difference Between Environment and Nature
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
The Environment encompasses all external factors, conditions, and influences affecting the life and development of organisms. On the other hand, Nature signifies the inherent traits or characteristics of something, or it can refer to the physical world largely untouched by human intervention.
Considering the Environment, it can be shaped and influenced by both natural elements and human activities. In contrast, Nature represents the untamed and unaltered aspects of the world, embodying the essence of the world in its raw form.
Urban areas, for instance, have an Environment molded heavily by man-made structures, pollution, and human population. While the term Nature would more closely relate to forests, oceans, and landscapes free from significant human interference.
While the Environment is broad and can include aspects like culture, economy, and technology, Nature remains rooted in the organic, biological, and inherent qualities of life and matter.
When we discuss conserving our Environment, we might be referring to reducing pollution, sustainable practices, or urban planning. In contrast, conserving Nature implies protecting wildlife, forests, and maintaining the ecological balance.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
Surroundings in which organisms live and interact.
Natural world or inherent characteristics.
Associated With
Both natural and man-made elements.
Purely natural elements or essence of something
Usage
Describes external conditions and influences.
Describes intrinsic qualities or the wild world
Grammatical Role
Noun, occasionally used as an adjective.
Noun, can also be used as an adjective.
Examples
Urban environment, workplace environment.
Nature reserve, human nature.
Compare with Definitions
Environment
The social and cultural setting.
The school provides a nurturing environment for students.
Nature
The forces and processes that produce and control these phenomena
The balance of nature.
Environment
All external conditions that influence growth and development.
The business environment is competitive.
Nature
The inherent or fundamental qualities of something.
It's in his nature to be kind.
Environment
The natural world as affected by human activity.
Pollution harms the environment.
Nature
The physical world, including plants, animals, and landscapes.
She loves exploring the beauty of nature.
Environment
The external conditions affecting an organism.
Plants adapt to their environment.
Nature
A kind or sort.
We need tools of this nature for the project.
Environment
The combination of external physical conditions that affect and influence the growth, development, behavior, and survival of organisms
"Conditions in a lion's environment ... can drive it to hunt people" (Philip Caputo).
Nature
An innate characteristic or quality.
The nature of water is to flow.
Environment
The general set of conditions or circumstances
A terrible environment for doing business.
Nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is the natural, physical, material world or universe. "Nature" can refer to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general.
Environment
The surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates
Survival in an often hostile environment
Nature
The phenomena of the physical world collectively, including plants, animals, the landscape, and other features and products of the earth, as opposed to humans or human creations
The breathtaking beauty of nature
Environment
The natural world, as a whole or in a particular geographical area, especially as affected by human activity
The impact of pesticides on the environment
A parliamentary environment committee
Nature
The basic or inherent features, character, or qualities of something
Helping them to realize the nature of their problems
There are a lot of other documents of that nature
Environment
The totality of the natural world, often excluding humans
"Technology, of course, lies at the heart of man's relationship with the environment" (Mark Hertsgaard).
Nature
The material world and its phenomena
Scientists analyzing nature.
Environment
A subset of the natural world; an ecosystem
The coastal environment.
Nature
The world of living things and the outdoors
Spent the day enjoying nature.
Environment
The complex of social and cultural conditions affecting the nature of an individual person or community.
Nature
A primitive state of existence, untouched and uninfluenced by civilization or social constraints
When people lived in a state of nature.
Environment
The entire set of conditions under which one operates a computer, as it relates to the hardware, operating platform, or operating system.
Nature
The basic character or qualities of humanity
It is only human nature to worry about the future.
Environment
An area of a computer's memory used by the operating system and some programs to store certain variables to which they need frequent access.
Nature
The fundamental character or disposition of a person; temperament
A man of an irascible nature.
Environment
The surroundings of, and influences on, a particular item of interest.
Nature
The set of inherent characteristics or properties that distinguish something
Trying to determine the nature of a newly discovered phenomenon.
Environment
The natural world or ecosystem.
Nature
A kind or sort
Confidences of a personal nature.
Environment
All the elements that affect a system or its inputs and outputs.
Nature
The processes and functions of the body, as in healing
The doctor decided not to do anything and let nature take its course.
Environment
A particular political or social setting, arena or condition.
Nature
Heredity
Behavior more influenced by nature than nurture.
Environment
(computing) The software and/or hardware existing on any particular computer system.
That program uses the Microsoft Windows environment.
Nature
The way things are, the totality of all things in the physical universe and their order, especially the physical world in contrast to spiritual realms and flora and fauna as distinct from human conventions, art, and technology.
Nature doesn't lie.
The laws of nature are written in the language of mathematics.
Tectonic activity is part of nature, so there's no way to stop earthquakes.
Environment
(programming) The environment of a function at a point during the execution of a program is the set of identifiers in the function's scope and their bindings at that point.
Nature
The particular way someone or something is, especially
Environment
(computing) The set of variables and their values in a namespace that an operating system associates with a process.
Nature
The essential or innate characteristics of a person or thing which will always tend to manifest, especially in contrast to specific contexts, reason, religious duty, upbringing, and personal pretense or effort.
It's not in my nature to steal.
You can't help feeling that way. It's human nature.
Power corrupts. That's just the nature of the beast.
Environment
Act of environing; state of being environed.
Nature
The distinguishing characteristic of a person or thing, understood as its general class, sort, type, etc.
What was the nature of your relationship with the deceased?
The best medium might be petroleum, liquified gas, or something of that nature.
Environment
That which environs or surrounds; surrounding conditions, influences, or forces, by which living forms are influenced and modified in their growth and development.
It is no friendly environment, this of thine.
Nature
Synonym of caliber: the class of a gun.
Environment
The totality of surrounding conditions;
He longed for the comfortable environment of his livingroom
Nature
The vital functions or strength of someone or something, especially as requiring nourishment or careful maintenance or (medicine) as a force of regeneration without special treatment.
Environment
The area in which something exists or lives;
The country--the flat agricultural surround
Nature
A requirement or powerful impulse of the body's physical form, especially
Environment
A particular setting or locale.
The coastal environment has its own unique ecosystem.
Nature
The need to urinate and defecate.
I hear the call of nature.
Nature
Sexual desire.
Nature
Spontaneous love, affection, or reverence, especially between parent and child.
Nature
A product of the body's physical form, especially semen and vaginal fluids, menstrual fluid, and (obsolete) feces.
Nature
A part of the body's physical form, especially (obsolete) the female genitalia.
Nature
(obsolete) To endow with natural qualities.
Nature
The existing system of things; the universe of matter, energy, time and space; the physical world; all of creation. Contrasted with the world of mankind, with its mental and social phenomena.
But looks through nature up to nature's God.
When, in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bonds which have connected them with another, ans to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal Station which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes that impel them to the Separation.
Nature has caprices which art can not imitate.
Nature
The personified sum and order of causes and effects; the powers which produce existing phenomena, whether in the total or in detail; the agencies which carry on the processes of creation or of being; - often conceived of as a single and separate entity, embodying the total of all finite agencies and forces as disconnected from a creating or ordering intelligence; as, produced by nature; the forces of nature.
I oft admireHow Nature, wise and frugal, could commitSuch disproportions.
Nature
The established or regular course of things; usual order of events; connection of cause and effect.
Nature
Conformity to that which is natural, as distinguished from that which is artificial, or forced, or remote from actual experience.
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.
Nature
The sum of qualities and attributes which make a person or thing what it is, as distinct from others; native character; inherent or essential qualities or attributes; peculiar constitution or quality of being.
Thou, therefore, whom thou only canst redeem,Their nature also to thy nature join,And be thyself man among men on earth.
Nature
Kind, sort; character; quality.
A dispute of this nature caused mischief.
Nature
Physical constitution or existence; the vital powers; the natural life.
Oppressed nature sleeps.
Nature
Natural affection or reverence.
Have we not seenThe murdering son ascend his parent's bed,Through violated nature force his way?
Nature
Constitution or quality of mind or character.
A born devil, on whose natureNurture can never stick.
That reverence which is due to a superior nature.
Nature
To endow with natural qualities.
He [God] which natureth every kind.
Nature
The essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized;
It is the nature of fire to burn
The true nature of jealousy
Nature
A causal agent creating and controlling things in the universe;
The laws of nature
Nature has seen to it that men are stronger than women
Nature
The natural physical world including plants and animals and landscapes etc.;
They tried to preserve nature as they found it
Nature
The complex of emotional and intellectual attributes that determine a person's characteristic actions and reactions;
It is his nature to help others
Nature
A particular type of thing;
Problems of this type are very difficult to solve
He's interested in trains and things of that nature
Matters of a personal nature
Nature
The essential characteristics or qualities of something.
They discussed the nature of the problem.
Common Curiosities
How do we differentiate between natural environment and built environment?
Natural environment consists of naturally occurring landscapes, while built environment is shaped by human design and construction.
Can human activities shape nature?
Yes, human activities can impact and alter natural ecosystems, often leading to environmental issues.
Why is nature conservation important?
It maintains biodiversity, ensures ecological balance, and provides resources essential for survival.
Are environment and nature interchangeable terms?
No, while related, environment includes both natural and man-made elements, whereas nature refers primarily to the natural world.
Is nature solely about plants and animals?
No, nature encompasses all natural phenomena, including weather, geology, and inherent characteristics of entities.
What constitutes a built environment?
It refers to man-made surroundings, including buildings, roads, and other infrastructures.
Is nature always unaltered by humans?
Ideally, yes, but in reality, many parts of nature have been impacted by human activities.
Can the environment influence health?
Absolutely, factors like air quality, water pollution, and urban design can directly impact public health.
Why is nature often used in therapy?
Nature offers a calming, rejuvenating effect, aiding in relaxation and mental well-being.
How can one contribute to a better environment?
By adopting sustainable practices, reducing waste, conserving resources, and promoting environmental awareness.
Can environment include virtual spaces?
Yes, in modern contexts, "environment" can refer to digital or virtual settings.
How does nature impact the environment?
Nature forms the foundational elements of any environment, influencing climate, ecology, and biodiversity.
How can environments affect an individual's behavior?
Environment encompasses various factors – physical, cultural, social – that can influence an individual's actions, thoughts, and feelings.
Are natural disasters part of nature?
Yes, they are natural events, though sometimes exacerbated by human activities affecting the environment.
Is it essential to balance nature and development?
Yes, balancing ensures sustainability, preserving resources for future generations while catering to present needs.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
