meteorological
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of meteorological
1560–70; < Greek meteōrologik ( ós ) pertaining to celestial phenomena ( see meteorology, -ic) + -al 1
Explanation
Something that's meteorological is related to the weather or changes in the Earth's atmosphere. If you're interested in a meteorological career, it means you'd like to be a meteorologist — a weather expert. Meteorological events include things like fog, rain, tornadoes, and hurricanes. They are all caused by meteorological changes and shifts: in the temperature, air pressure, and amount of water vapor in the atmosphere. The word meteorological comes from the Greek root meteorologia, "discussion of high things," from meteor-, "thing high up," and logia, "the study of."
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.
El Niños are typically associated with more precipitation for parts of southern South America, central Asia and the Horn of Africa, according to the World Meteorological Organization and National Weather Service.
From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026
A March report from the World Meteorological Organization found that “Earth’s climate is more out of balance than at any time in observed history.”
From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026
Meteorological planning for the Artemis II launch started many months ago.
From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026
Environmental expert at the Sarajevo Meteorological Institute Enis Krecinic said the air quality was "extremely polluted".
From Barron's • Jan. 23, 2026
He points to the news announcer actor, who breaks in with a second bulletin: The Government Meteorological Bureau has asked observatories to watch for more explosions on Mars.
From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow
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.
