Since everything is part of the environment of something else, the word environment is used to talk about many things. People in different fields of knowledge use the word environment differently. Electromagnetic environment is radio waves and other electromagnetic radiation and magnetic fields. The environment of galaxy refers to conditions of interstellar medium.

In psychology and medicine, a person’s environment is the people, physical things and places that the person lives with. The environment affects the growth and development of the person. It affects the person’s behavior, body, mind and heart.

Discussions on nature versus nurture are sometimes framed as heredity vs. environment.

The living conditions of living organisms in an environment are affected by the weather or climate changes in the environment. And an environment is something that is close to you or your surroundings.