astrology
Americannoun
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the study that assumes and attempts to interpret the influence of the heavenly bodies on human affairs.
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Obsolete. the science of astronomy.
noun
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the study of the motions and relative positions of the planets, sun, and moon, interpreted in terms of human characteristics and activities
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the primitive study of celestial bodies, which formed the basis of astronomy
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of astrology
1325–75; Middle English < Latin astrologia < Greek. See astro-, -logy
Compare meaning
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Explanation
If you don't leave your house without checking your horoscope, and you’re always asking people, “What’s your sign?” you’re likely a fan of astrology — the idea that the stars and planets and their movements influence human life. Astrology comes from the Greek astron "star" and the suffix -ology "study of." The actual science of the celestial bodies is astronomy, which also includes the Greek word for "star" but with a suffix that means "arranging." Astrology has been around since ancient times, and while it requires some knowledge of astronomy, it’s about as scientific as fortune telling and palm reading.
Vocabulary lists containing astrology
From Ascension to Zenith: Astronomy and Stargazing Terms
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Oh, My Stars! A Solstice Sampler
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Elements of the Universe: Aster, Astro ("Star")
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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.
Astrology influencer Evan Nathaniel Grim sees Trump as a person who may have been royalty in a past life.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026
Astrology was just the vessel that shaped the delusion, not its cause.
From Slate • May 5, 2026
Dr Campion, who runs an MA in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology, believes Mercury retrograde found popularity due to its simplicity – but says this can undermine how professional astrology is perceived.
From BBC • Aug. 3, 2024
Astrology looks beyond the moon phases to explain the natural world.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 4, 2023
The Sword in the Stone On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays it was Court Hand and Summulae Logicaks, while the rest of the week it was the Organon, Repetition and Astrology.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
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.
