botany
Americannoun
-
the science of plants; the branch of biology that deals with plant life.
-
the plant life of a region.
the botany of Alaska.
-
the biology of a plant or plant group.
the botany of deciduous trees.
-
(sometimes initial capital letter) Botany wool.
noun
-
the study of plants, including their classification, structure, physiology, ecology, and economic importance
-
the plant life of a particular region or time
-
the biological characteristics of a particular group of plants
-
The scientific study of plants, including their growth, structure, physiology, reproduction, and pathology, as well as their economic use and cultivation by humans.
-
The plant life of a particular area.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of botany
Explanation
The study of plants is called botany. Each climate has its own particular botany, so if you study desert growth, you might focus on such plants as cactus and sage, while if you're in the jungle you'd study the lush growth there. Someone once said, "Botany is the science in which plants are known by their aliases." Indeed, the study of botany includes learning the scientific names of plants. The origin of the word botany came from the Greek word botane, which means "grass" or "pasture." Since the original meaning focused on the idea of a pasture, it's possible the study of botany came about from herdsmen needing to know what plants were safe for their herds to eat.
Vocabulary lists containing botany
"When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine," Vocabulary from the short story
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Astronauts
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Where the Watermelons Grow
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Through this paper, we aim to raise awareness of forensic botany and encourage law enforcement to recognize the value of even the smallest plant fragments during investigations."
From Science Daily • Jan. 1, 2026
Simon Milne, whose formal title is regius keeper, has been recognised for his services to botany, conservation and horticulture.
From BBC • Dec. 29, 2025
First, a botany crash-course: You can’t just plant a seed from your favorite apple to grow more of them.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025
Horn Farm is now offering a new eight-week training program with intensive foraging classes that cover botany terminology, plant identification, safety best practices, culinary uses and more.
From Salon • May 30, 2024
The books were of the most varied kind—history, geography, politics, political economy, botany, geology, law—all relating to England and English life and customs and manners.
From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
