adjective

inhabitable

in-HAB-ih-tuh-bul/ɪnˈhæbɪtəbl/

Suitable or safe to live in.

The repaired roof and working heat make the old house inhabitable.

A simple, sound small home shown in an open-front cutaway, with intact weatherproof walls and roof, a dry finished floor, a usable bed, a modest cooking area, and running water.

Etymology

inLatinin, into

+habitLatinto dwell

+ableEnglishcapable of being

Here in- means “in,” so the pieces yield “capable of being dwelt in”: suitable for people to live there. The word has also carried the opposite meaning through the distinct negative prefix in-.

In context

Enhanced Public Domain30:27

the Earth is forever being bombarded by meteor stones and would be hardly inhabitable were they not in nearly every case turned into vapor in the outer layers of the atmosphere

1920s Fiction: Arthur Conan Doyle - Tales of Terror (Audiobook)

More examples

A reliable supply of clean water makes the island inhabitable.
The upstairs rooms remain inhabitable during the kitchen renovation.
Inspectors check whether the apartments are inhabitable after the fire.

Forms

inhabitable

inhabit verb — To live in a particular place.

Similar words

habitable: The more common adjective for a place suitable for living.
livable: Often suggests comfort and practicality, not just basic safety.