meteorology
Americannoun
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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
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
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Physical Geography - Introductory
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Weather and Climate - Introductory
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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.
In a 2025 paper in the Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, I documented one of the clearest examples of self-correction failure in climate research that I’ve encountered in nearly three decades of research.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026
A new study from the Department of Meteorology and Geophysics at the University of Vienna provides a clearer picture of where these airborne microplastics come from.
From Science Daily • Apr. 24, 2026
Extreme fire danger warnings are in place across Victoria state, where Melbourne is located, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting that some inland areas could hit 49C.
From Barron's • Jan. 26, 2026
It always looked likely the action would be suspended in the afternoon, given the Australian Bureau of Meteorology had issued a severe heatwave warning.
From BBC • Jan. 24, 2026
The opportunity of an experiment on a comparatively large scale, and under conditions of comparative isolation, can occur but rarely in such a science as Meteorology.
From The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. XXII (of 25) Juvenilia and Other Papers by Stevenson, Robert Louis
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.
