archaeology

or ar·che·ol·o·gy

[ ahr-kee-ol-uh-jee ]

/ ˌɑr kiˈɒl ə dʒi /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: archaeology / archaeologist on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

Rare. ancient history; the study of antiquity.

QUIZ

GOOSES. GEESES. I WANT THIS QUIZ ON PLURAL NOUNS!

Test how much you really know about regular and irregular plural nouns with this quiz.

Question 1 of 9

Which of the following nouns has an irregular plural form?

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of archaeology

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

OTHER WORDS FROM archaeology

ar·chae·ol·o·gist, noun

Words nearby archaeology

archaeobotany, Archaeocyathid, archaeol., archaeological, archaeologist, archaeology, archaeomagnetism, archaeomagnetism dating, archaeometry, archaeon , archaeopteryx

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use archaeology in a sentence

In conversation, they soon discovered a mutual love of archaeology.
Date Lab: They had ‘fun hair,’ fondue and a shared love of archaeology|Damona Hoffman|August 26, 2021|Washington Post
Neanderthals were discovered in Europe, the continent with the longest and most well-funded tradition in archaeology.
The Human Family Tree, It Turns Out, Is Complicated - Issue 102: Hidden Truths|Razib Khan|June 30, 2021|Nautilus
Data archaeology is particularly good for historians studying cities because urban places often hold the stories of immigrants who might be otherwise difficult to trace.
How technology helped archaeologists dig deeper|Annalee Newitz|April 28, 2021|MIT Technology Review
In recent months, a series of discoveries have captivated the world of archaeology.
In the tombs of Saqqara, new discoveries are rewriting ancient Egypt’s history|Sudarsan Raghavan|April 22, 2021|Washington Post

Mason jars were tucked into dusty bookshelves packed with cookbooks, novels, and archaeology texts.
The Search for a Ranger Who Was Lost and Never Found|Brendan Borrell|April 1, 2021|Outside Online
The first time I ever heard about archaeology was in the fifth grade when we learned about Richard Leakey.
The Real-Life Raiders of the Lost Ark|Alex Belth|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I found the section of the book on forensic archaeology fascinating.
The Real-Life Raiders of the Lost Ark|Alex Belth|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ruth Shady isn't my anything; she is her own, completely original force in archaeology.
The Real-Life Raiders of the Lost Ark|Alex Belth|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If you can stomach lunch—forensic archaeology can be disgusting.
The Real-Life Raiders of the Lost Ark|Alex Belth|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Archaeology is about paying attention to things that have been or could be indetectable or invisible to others.
The Real-Life Raiders of the Lost Ark|Alex Belth|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This lack of enjoyment in Nature, lack of interest in topography and archaeology, was probably personal to him.
The Age of Erasmus|P. S. Allen
The Canon, whose archaeology did not go back beyond St. Patrick, offered no correction.
Hyacinth|George A. Birmingham
Whatever may be the reason, such theories are not borne out by the discoveries of archaeology.
The Other Side of Evolution|Alexander Patterson
We need also to consider the vast and great civilizations which existed in remote antiquity as is now revealed by archaeology.
The Other Side of Evolution|Alexander Patterson
David Hulse, junior author, is a native of Decatur, and his interest in archaeology is as longstanding as Cambron's.
Handbook of Alabama Archaeology: Part I Point Types|James W. Cambron

British Dictionary definitions for archaeology

archaeology

archeology

/ (ˌɑːkɪˈɒlədʒɪ) /

noun

the study of man's past by scientific analysis of the material remains of his culturesSee also prehistory, protohistory

Derived forms of archaeology

archaeological or archeological (ˌɑːkɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl), adjectivearchaeologically or archeologically, adverbarchaeologist or archeologist, noun

Word Origin for archaeology

C17: from Late Latin archaeologia, from Greek arkhaiologia study of what is ancient, from arkhaios ancient (from arkhē beginning)

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

Scientific definitions for archaeology

archaeology

archeology

(är′kē-ŏl′ə-jē)

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

Cultural definitions for archaeology

archaeology

[ (ahr-kee-ol-uh-jee) ]

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.

archaeology

or ar·che·ol·o·gy

Origin of archaeology

OTHER WORDS FROM archaeology

Words nearby archaeology

Words related to archaeology

How to use archaeology in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for archaeology

archeology

Derived forms of archaeology

Word Origin for archaeology

Scientific definitions for archaeology

Cultural definitions for archaeology