botany

American  

[bot-n-ee] / ˈbɒt n i /

noun

• botanies
  plural

1. the science of plants; the branch of biology that deals with plant life.

2. the plant life of a region.

   the botany of Alaska.

3. the biology of a plant or plant group.

   the botany of deciduous trees.

4. (sometimes initial capital letter) Botany wool.

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botany British  

/ ˈbɒtənɪ /

noun

1. the study of plants, including their classification, structure, physiology, ecology, and economic importance

2. the plant life of a particular region or time

3. the biological characteristics of a particular group of plants

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botany Scientific  

/ bŏt′n-ē /

1. The scientific study of plants, including their growth, structure, physiology, reproduction, and pathology, as well as their economic use and cultivation by humans.

2. The plant life of a particular area.

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botany Cultural  

1. The scientific study and categorization of plants. (See fruit, photosynthesis, and plant kingdom.)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• botanist
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• botanies
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of botany

1690–1700; botan(ic) ( see botanical) + -y ³

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Explanation

The study of plants is called botany. Each climate has its own particular botany, so if you study desert growth, you might focus on such plants as cactus and sage, while if you're in the jungle you'd study the lush growth there. Someone once said, "Botany is the science in which plants are known by their aliases." Indeed, the study of botany includes learning the scientific names of plants. The origin of the word botany came from the Greek word botane, which means "grass" or "pasture." Since the original meaning focused on the idea of a pasture, it's possible the study of botany came about from herdsmen needing to know what plants were safe for their herds to eat.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

botany botanies

These fungi have been used in botany since the mid-19th century and form close partnerships with plant roots.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026

From architecture to botany to labor practices, the people, places and culture with which Jefferson interacted became integral to the vision of America he would begin to implement on his return to the States.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

As I explained to the trainees, however, an exceptional amount of knowledge about botany, forestry, gastronomy, aquatic systems and topography was not just passed along by enslaved people, but created by them.

From Salon ● Jun. 19, 2026

Helen Litchfield, secretary of the botany section at La Société Guernesiaise, said the team's efforts in propagating the dwarf pansy meant it was no longer at risk.

From BBC ● Apr. 3, 2026

They’ll be safe from books and botany all their lives.”

From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley

She was familiar with many members of she family, but such a fine specimen she seldom had found and she could not recall having seen it in all of her botanies.

From Her Father's Daughter by Gene Stratton-Porter

Aside from laxity of method and statement, the only difference is that geographies and histories and botanies and astronomies are now part of the authoritative literature which is to be mastered.

From Democracy and Education: an introduction to the philosophy of education by John Dewey

They packed in all their bird books, their flower records, and botanies, and were eagerly waiting when the call from Mr. Dovesky came.

From Michael O'Halloran by Gene Stratton-Porter

With a sentiment of wonder and inquiry, not unmixed with mystery, do we regard many flowers, which are described in our botanies as Garden Escapes.

From Old-Time Gardens Newly Set Forth by Alice Morse Earle

The "virtues of flowers" took a prominent place in the descriptions in old-time botanies.

From Home Life in Colonial Days by Alice Morse Earle

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