astrobiology
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
- astrobiological adjective
Etymology
Origin of astrobiology
Explanation
Astrobiology is a branch of science that studies life throughout the universe. If you're fascinated by the possibility of living beings on other planets, you might want to go into astrobiology. Astrobiology is formed by adding astro-, "star," to biology, "the study of life." This field, focusing on the origins, evolution, and future of life in the universe, starts with the assumption that extraterrestrial life probably exists. Astrobiology includes the history of life on our planet, evidence for life elsewhere, and research into making other planets habitable for humans. NASA's Mars missions, which search for signs of life on the red planet, are an example of astrobiology research.
Vocabulary lists containing astrobiology
Elements of the Universe: Aster, Astro ("Star")
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astro, aster
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Roots: ast, aster, astro
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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.
This idea offers a fresh direction for astrobiology, especially in cases where traditional biosignatures are unclear or unreliable.
From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2026
“I did not see myself in an astrobiology lab,” Flores said from her office at the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, where she has worked since 2023 as an engineering associate.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 20, 2024
“The astrobiology community is trying to find the perfect biosignature to look for,” says Lena Noack, a geodynamicist of the Free University of Berlin.
From Science Magazine • Apr. 26, 2024
Students in my astrobiology class got lectures live from Johnson Space Center in Houston.
From New York Times • Mar. 22, 2024
"This was an effort to answer one of the age-old questions that we've had in the field of astrobiology," Hazen said during a press briefing.
From Salon • Sep. 26, 2023
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.
