le·bens·raum \ˈlābənzˌrau̇m\noun (-s) Usage: often capitalized Etymology: German, literally, living space, from leben life, living + raum space 1.: territory that is held to be necessary for the existence or the economic self-sufficiency of a state < lands … earmarked by the Nazis as part of their lebensraum — H.C.Wolfe > 2.: space required (as by a community, institution, organism, individual) for life, growth, or activity < the library is badly in need of new lebensraum — Hollis W. Piatt >