Enviro

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Definitions

1. A casual clipped name for a person who campaigns to protect nature ; a shortened informal way of describing something related to the natural surroundings and ecology
2. Informal shorthand for an activist who works to safeguard the natural world ; an abbreviated casual adjective meaning connected with the surroundings and ecosystems of nature
3. A colloquial abbreviation referring to a campaigner for nature conservation ; a clipped everyday adjective applied to matters concerning the natural environment and its health

Etymology: "Enviro" is a clipping of "environmentalist," so it began as a shortened form of a longer word rather than as a coinage in its own right. The full word "environmentalist" is built from "environment" plus the suffix "-ist," meaning one who supports or practises a cause, and the clipped form drops everything after the first few syllables. Clipping of this kind is common in informal speech, where a long word is trimmed to a quick, familiar sound. Because "enviro" is a shortening, its meaning is tied directly to the full word, so it usually refers to people who work for or advocate environmental protection, or to the cause itself when used as an adjective in phrases about environmental policy or groups.