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Synonyms

archaeology

American  
[ahr-kee-ol-uh-jee] / ˌɑr kiˈɒl ə dʒi /
Or archeology

noun

  1. the scientific study of historic or prehistoric peoples and their cultures by analysis of their artifacts, inscriptions, monuments, and other such remains, especially those that have been excavated.

  2. Rare. ancient history; the study of antiquity.

archaeology British  
/ ˌɑːkɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl, ˌɑːkɪˈɒlədʒɪ /

noun

  1. the study of man's past by scientific analysis of the material remains of his cultures See also prehistory protohistory

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
archaeology Scientific  
/ är′kē-ŏl′ə-jē /

  1. The scientific study of past human life and culture by the examination of physical remains, such as graves, tools, and pottery.

archaeology Cultural  

  1. The recovery and study of material objects, such as graves, buildings, tools, artworks, and human remains, to investigate the structure and behavior of past cultures. Archaeologists rely on physical remains as clues to the emergence and development of human societies and civilizations. Anthropologists, by contrast, to interact with living people to study their cultures.

Other Word Forms

  • archaeological adjective
  • archaeologically adverb
  • archaeologist noun

Etymology

Origin of archaeology

First recorded in 1600–10, archaeology is from the Greek word archaiología the discussion of antiquities. See archaeo-, -logy

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.

"I clearly remember when the computer finally processed the data and we saw the match come together. It was an exciting moment," she told AFP at Istanbul's archaeology museum.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

If a viewer tunes in to a show about Egyptian archaeology and the artifacts of antiquity, he or she is likely already deeply interested, so the cheerleading is unnecessary.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

I walk a frozen Bothnian Gulf at Nallikari, an obscured lighthouse, a delinquent lifeguard stand, and makeshift saunas stand on white expanse like archaeology.

From Salon • Mar. 8, 2026

It is planning to share the story in a new archaeology gallery opening in 2027.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026

Cory’s interest in archaeology made him seem more special.

From "The Season of Styx Malone" by Kekla Magoon

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.