What does "lebensraum" mean?
Hitherto unoccupied “living space” claimed as one’s rightful domain.
Lebensraum
/ˈleɪbənzˌɹaʊm/ name, noun
name, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Hitherto unoccupied “living space” claimed as one’s rightful domain.
- Grammar: lebensraum is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: air space, back country, clearance, clearing.
- Usage evidence: Hitler called for "Lebensraum" in Eastern Europe.
How to use "lebensraum"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "lebensraum" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "lebensraum" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "lebensraum" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "lebensraum" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "lebensraum" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "air space" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "lebensraum", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Hitherto unoccupied “living space” claimed as one’s rightful domain.
"Geographers accepted this enlarged meaning of the term and spoke readily of geographical Räume and Lebensräume of peoples, even in cases where no real three-dimensional distribution was implied."
- 2 space sought for occupation by a nation whose population is expanding wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 Territories considered appropriate for German habitation, regarded as vital for the natural flourishing of the German race:; an empire in the form of overseas colonies, in imitation of contemporary powers such as Britain and France.
- 2 Territories considered appropriate for German habitation, regarded as vital for the natural flourishing of the German race:; a Großdeutschland obtained through Endoeuropean expansion, usually with a focus upon Drang nach Osten, and varying in its scope from the comparatively modest annexation of the Polish Border Strip to overlordship of the European continent by the conquest of Russian lands as far as the Urals. Nazism
"The title of this article evokes memories of the beginning of World War II and reveals one method dictators use to increase their power. In China’s case, Xi Jinping’s Anschluss of Hong Kong in June 2020 fits nicely with the way Hitler began his initial European expansion strategy, called Lebensraum (living space). In Zweites Buch, Hitler said that to dominate the world, Germany must expand its borders and areas it controls. The first way to start achieving Lebensraum would be through Anschluss — the unification of Austria and Germany. Further, he envisioned an expansion that would include Poland, Czechoslovakia, the rest of Europe and Russia."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Hitler called for "Lebensraum" in Eastern Europe."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "lebensraum"?
Common synonyms include: air space, back country, clearance, clearing, desert, glade.
How do you use "lebensraum" in a sentence?
Hitler called for "Lebensraum" in Eastern Europe.
How do you pronounce "lebensraum"?
Pronounced /ˈleɪbənzˌɹaʊm/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Unadapted borrowing from German Lebensraum (literally “living space”).
Etymology 2
A generalised use of Lebensraum.