botany

American  

[bot-n-ee] / ˈbɒt n i /

noun

plural

botanies

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

• botanist noun

Etymology

Origin of botany

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

Example Sentences

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

"The samples have proved to be an unexpected, unique and very exciting archive of DNA from wind-dispersed biological particles," says Nils Cronberg, a botany researcher at Lund University.

From Science Daily • Dec. 21, 2025

First, a botany crash-course: You can’t just plant a seed from your favorite apple to grow more of them.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025

Among his innate gifts, Mufasa proves to be an expert in elephant migration patterns and botany.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2024

So, while we’re unconscious on the journey, I’ll be getting the botany and geology lessons my parents chose for me.

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera