cosmology

American  

[koz-mol-uh-jee] / kɒzˈmɒl ə dʒi /

noun

1. the branch of philosophy dealing with the origin and general structure of the universe, with its parts, elements, and laws, and especially with such of its characteristics as space, time, causality, and freedom.

2. the branch of astronomy that deals with the general structure and evolution of the universe.

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cosmology British  

/ kɒzˈmɒlədʒɪ, ˌkɒzməˈlɒdʒɪkəl /

noun

1. the philosophical study of the origin and nature of the universe

2. the branch of astronomy concerned with the evolution and structure of the universe

3. a particular account of the origin or structure of the universe

   Ptolemaic cosmology

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cosmology Scientific  

/ kŏz-mŏl′ə-jē /

1. The scientific study of the origin, evolution, and structure of the universe.

2. A specific theory or model of the origin and evolution of the universe.

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cosmology ¹ Cultural  

1. The branch of science dealing with the large-scale structure, origins, and development of the universe. (See astronomy and Big Bang theory.)

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cosmology ² Cultural  

1. A system of beliefs that seeks to describe or explain the origin and structure of the universe. A cosmology attempts to establish an ordered, harmonious framework that integrates time, space, the planets, stars, and other celestial phenomena. In so-called primitive societies, cosmologies help explain the relationship of human beings to the rest of the universe and are therefore closely tied to religious beliefs and practices. In modern industrial societies, cosmologies seek to explain the universe through astronomy and mathematics. Metaphysics also plays a part in the formation of cosmologies. (See also under “Physical Sciences and Mathematics.”)

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Other Word Forms

• cosmologer
  noun
• cosmologist
  noun
• cosmologic
  adjective
• cosmological
  adjective
• cosmologically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of cosmology

From the New Latin word cosmologia, dating back to 1650–60. See cosmo-, -logy

Compare meaning

How does cosmology compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• cosmology vs. cosmogony

Explanation

Cosmology is the study of the cosmos, which is the entire universe. Someone who studies cosmology is interested in the structure, origins, and development of the universe. In cosmology, the major theory of the origin of the universe is the Big Bang Theory, the idea that 12 to 14 billion years ago, a small amount of hot, dense matter began expanding, eventually cooling and forming the stars and galaxies we know today. Cosmos comes from the Greek word kosmos, which means world or universe, and cosmology comes from cosmos. Don't confuse cosmology with cosmetology, which is the study of beauty treatments.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cosmology

That principle creates a major challenge for cosmology.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 21, 2026

Co-author Dr. Brodie Popovic said the project provided an opportunity to revisit assumptions that underpin modern cosmology.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 13, 2026

The current standard model of cosmology, known as ΛCDM, successfully explains many large-scale features of the universe, including its expansion and the distribution of galaxies.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 11, 2026

Specific fluid visual structures shifting across the walls have been formally classified as “Ruwe Pinu” by tribal leader Nixiwaka, referring to an ancient mythological entity that appears in ancestral cosmology.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2026

In cosmology, as the journalist Geoffrey Carr has suggested, we have "a mountain of theory built on a molehill of evidence."

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

• creation