Habitable means suitable for people (or other living things) to live in. A habitable planet has the right conditions for life: breathable air, drinkable water, and temperatures that aren't too extreme. A habitable house is one that's safe and livable, with working plumbing, heat, and a solid roof.

When scientists search for habitable planets beyond Earth, they're looking for worlds where humans could potentially survive. When a building inspector declares a house habitable, they're confirming it meets basic standards for someone to move in safely.

The opposite is uninhabitable: too dangerous, damaged, or extreme for living. After a fire or flood, a house might become temporarily uninhabitable until it's repaired. Antarctica is mostly uninhabitable because of its brutal cold, though research stations make small areas livable.

Think of habitable as the minimum standard for “this could work as a home.” It doesn't mean luxurious or even comfortable. It means the basics are there: you could survive and maybe even thrive there.