philology
Americannoun
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the study of literary texts and of written records, the establishment of their authenticity and their original form, and the determination of their meaning.
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(especially in older use) linguistics, especially historical and comparative linguistics.
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Obsolete. the love of learning and literature.
noun
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comparative and historical linguistics
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the scientific analysis of written records and literary texts
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(no longer in scholarly use) the study of literature in general
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of philology
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English philologie, Latin philologia, from Greek philología “love of learning and literature,” equivalent to philólog(os) “literary, studious, argumentative” + -ia -y 3; see philo-, -logy
Explanation
Philology means the study of language. Not learning specific languages per se, but grammar and history, and how sounds and meanings change over time. If you study philology, you don't need anyone to tell you that the word philology comes from the Greek philologia "love of learning." It's one of the words ending in -logy, which means "study." Think biology (life), archaeology (ancient things), psychology (the mind), sociology (society).
Vocabulary lists containing philology
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All You Need is Love: Amor and Phil
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Power Suffix: -ology
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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.
A French academic is under investigation for inventing a Nobel-style prize for philology in order that he could then go on to win it.
From BBC ● May 6, 2026
His rejection of England’s imperial mythology is Romantic in its passion for philology and topology.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026
Oksana Krotova holds a master's degree in philology and worked as a hotel manager in Kyiv before the invasion.
From Reuters ● Jul. 21, 2023
Of his various talents, one of the most important was his mastery of philology: the history of languages.
From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2020
When you study the science of philology, you learn the laws governing how a consonant can lose its shape, but it keeps its identity from language to language.”
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
