noun
humidity
hyoo-MID-uh-tee/hjuːˈmɪdəti/
The amount of water vapor in the air.
High humidity makes the summer heat feel even more uncomfortable.
Etymology
Humidity originally meant the state of being moist or damp. Applied to the atmosphere, that general quality became a measurable amount of water vapor in the air.
In context
remember that air at a low relative humidity attracts moisture drying it out of saturated materials while air at high relative humidity makes it available
More examples
- The humidity drops when we turn on the air conditioner.
- Low humidity can dry out your skin.
- This sensor measures the humidity inside the greenhouse.
Forms
humid adjective — Containing substantial moisture in the air.
humidify verb — To add moisture to the air.
Similar words
- moisture
- Includes water on surfaces or in materials, not just air.
- dampness
- Suggests noticeable wetness rather than the amount of atmospheric water vapor.