stratigraphy

American  

[struh-tig-ruh-fee] / strəˈtɪg rə fi /

noun

1. a branch of geology dealing with the classification, nomenclature, correlation, and interpretation of stratified rocks.

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stratigraphy British  

/ strəˈtɪɡrəfə, strəˈtɪɡrəfɪ, strəˈtɪɡrəfɪst, ˌstrætɪˈɡræfɪk /

noun

1.  stratig.  the study of the composition, relative positions, etc, of rock strata in order to determine their geological history

2. archaeol a vertical section through the earth showing the relative positions of the human artefacts and therefore the chronology of successive levels of occupation

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stratigraphy Scientific  

/ strə-tĭg′rə-fē /

1. The scientific study of rock strata, especially the distribution, deposition, correlation, and age of sedimentary rocks.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• stratigrapher
  noun
• stratigraphist
  noun
• stratigraphically
  adverb
• stratigraphical
  adjective
• stratigraphic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of stratigraphy

First recorded in 1860–65; strati- + -graphy

Example Sentences

Stratigraphy involves studying rock sediments or layers of earth to determine their age.

From BBC • May 5, 2025

The Anthropocene Working Group, assembled by the International Commission on Stratigraphy, already picked the 1950s, an era of surging fossil fuel use, as the start of the epoch.

From Science Magazine • Jan. 4, 2023

Stratigraphy is the branch of geology that studies rock layers, or strata, and it is stratigraphers who work on the timescale directly.

From The Guardian • May 30, 2019

The geological time scale is now maintained by the International Commission on Stratigraphy.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

Stratigraphy and paleontology are concerned with the sedimentary and life history of the earth.

From The Economic Aspect of Geology by Leith, C. K. (Charles Kenneth)