biology
Americannoun
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the science of life or living matter in all its forms and phenomena, especially with reference to origin, growth, reproduction, structure, and behavior.
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the living organisms of a region.
the biology of Pennsylvania.
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the biological phenomena characteristic of an organism or a group of organisms.
She is studying the biology of worms, especially in regard to their reproductive behavior.
noun
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the study of living organisms, including their structure, functioning, evolution, distribution, and interrelationships
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the structure, functioning, etc, of a particular organism or group of organisms
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the animal and plant life of a particular region
Other Word Forms
- biologist noun
Etymology
Origin of biology
From the German word Biologie, dating back to 1805–15. See bio-, -logy
Compare meaning
How does biology compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Biology is the study of life and living organisms, from one-celled creatures to the most complex living organism of all — the human being. Biology includes the study of genes and cells that give living things their special characteristics. You may know that the ology suffix means "the study of," and the addition of the Greek bios, meaning "life," gives us the meaning of biology. According to Nobel Laureate Walter Gilbert, "Biology will relate every human gene to the genes of other animals and bacteria, to this great chain of being." Sometimes science isn't as pretty as that sounds (as you know if you've cut open worms or frogs in biology class).
Vocabulary lists containing biology
Words to Live By: Bio
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Power Suffix: -ology
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bio
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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.
"Silk farming sits at a rare intersection of biology, precision, and business. It didn't feel like I was leaving science, it felt like I was applying it differently," she says.
From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026
Today, new tools and approaches are helping scientists search for alien biology within our solar system and in the atmospheres of planets orbiting other stars, and look for traces of extraterrestrial hardware anywhere.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026
Yuvraj Gill, a pre-medical student, studies human biology at USC.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026
If you were comparing it to human biology, it performs roles similar to the liver, pancreas, and immune system.
From Science Daily • Apr. 20, 2026
Called the Pa-Ja-Mo—or, colloquially, the Pajama—paper, after the initials of the three authors, the study was instantly a classic, with vast implications for biology.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
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.
