ecology

American  

[ih-kol-uh-jee, ee-kol-] / ɪˈkɒl ə dʒi, iˈkɒl- /

Archaic, oecology

noun

• ecologies
  plural

1. the branch of biology dealing with the relations and interactions between organisms and their environment, including other organisms.

2. the set of relationships existing between organisms and their environment.

   Inflowing rivers introduce nutrients and sediments that are important for the ecology of the lake.

3. the set of relationships existing between any complex system and its surroundings or environment.

   In the ecology of healthcare, both politics and technology play a key role.

4. Also called human ecology. the branch of sociology concerned with the spacing and interdependence of people and institutions.

5. advocacy for the protection of natural resources from pollution or its effects; environmentalism.

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ecology British  

/ ɪˈkɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment

2. the set of relationships of a particular organism with its environment

3. the study of the relationships between human groups and their physical environment

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ecology Scientific  

/ ĭ-kŏl′ə-jē /

1. The scientific study of the relationships between living things and their environments.

2. Also called bionomics

3. A system of such relationships within a particular environment.

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ecology Cultural  

1. The study of living things, their environment, and the relation between the two.

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Synonym Usage

See ecosystem ( def. ).

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• ecologist
  noun
• ecologic
  adjective
• ecological
  adjective
• unecological
  adjective
• ecologically
  adverb
• unecologically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• ecologies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of ecology

First recorded in 1870–75; earlier oecology, from German Ökologie, from Greek oîk(os) “house, dwelling” + -o- + German -logie -logy; term introduced by E. H. Haeckel (1834–1919)

Explanation

The noun ecology describes the environment as it connects to living things, or the branch of biology that studies that environment. The German zoologist Ernst Haeckel coined the word ecology almost 150 years ago, and it should come as no surprise — his being a serious scientist and all — that he combined a couple of Greek words to do it. Oikos means "habitation" and -ology means "the study of." So ecology started off as the study of where things live. More and more, though, the word is used interchangeably with environment.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ecology ecologies

"Independent environmental assessments -- covering grid stability, power supply, water risk, ecology, acoustics and more -- are conducted 12 to 24 months before a project begins," he said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2026

It submitted plans for the data centre on behalf of Google last year, and as part of the application, consultancy firm Mallory Land Ltd said the proposals took into account the ecology there.

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026

Newsom and his administration have touted the deals as a break with years of conflict that will benefit the Delta’s ecology.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

The work offers new insights into human evolution, ecology, and modern attitudes toward insect-based foods.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026

Scientists in those fields tend to be ignorantly disdainful of fields to which those methodologies are inappropriate and which must therefore seek other methodologies—such as my own research areas of ecology and evolutionary biology.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

"I recorded from beneath the bark and composed music led by the rainforests themselves, empowering them to have their own voice in raising awareness of fragile ecologies," she said.

From BBC ● Apr. 21, 2024

Clear-cutting, for example, is devastating to local ecologies.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2023

Rather, in each of these blockbusters, the oceans are presented as complex ecologies of depth that merit serious and sustained attention.

From Salon ● Jan. 2, 2023

Her public projects reflect a broader movement of city dwellers interested in reclaiming underused outdoor sites and forging more intimate connections with local ecologies.

From New York Times ● Sep. 30, 2022

Infestation by Hannemania probably reflects similar ecologies rather than close relationships.

From A Taxonomic Revision of the Leptodactylid Frog Genus Syrrhophus Cope by John D. Lynch

Related Words

• conservation
• preservation