meteorology
Americannoun
-
the science dealing with the atmosphere and its phenomena, including weather and climate.
-
the atmospheric conditions and weather of an area.
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of meteorology
First recorded in 1610–20; from Greek meteōrología “discussion of celestial phenomena”; see meteor, -o-, -logy
Explanation
When the weather man tells you it's going to rain today, he is giving a meteorology report, or weather forecast. Meteorology is the study of our atmosphere. Meteorology comes from the Greek meteōrologia meaning "of the atmosphere." While meteorology involves various branches including aviation and agricultural studies, most commonly we see it in our everyday lives through weather forecasting, a process that involves collecting data about an atmosphere to determine what the weather will be. If you're fascinated by storms and hurricanes, consider a career in meteorology.
Vocabulary lists containing meteorology
Power Suffix: -ology
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!
Physical Geography - Introductory
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!
Weather and Climate - Introductory
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.
The French meteorology agency has filed a police complaint over suspected tampering with its data-processing system after a Polymarket bettor won big on an unusual temperature reading.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 23, 2026
While parts of California’s geography, geology and meteorology make circumstances unique along Highway 1, Beck said, precarious — and even crumbling — coastal highways are a relatively common problem across the globe.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 27, 2026
Fields such as meteorology, oceanography, and climate modeling face similar challenges and could benefit from tools that accelerate complex, multi-scale simulations.
From Science Daily • Nov. 16, 2025
“I would not get that job today till I had the American Meteorological Society seal or a degree in meteorology or atmospheric sciences,” Coleman said.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 23, 2025
The first result was The Method, which appeared in 1637, accompanied by three essays, on meteorology, optics and geometry.
From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin
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.
