eschatology

American  

[es-kuh-tol-uh-jee] / ˌɛs kəˈtɒl ə dʒi /

noun

Theology.

1. any system of doctrines concerning last, or final, matters, as death, the Judgment, the afterlife, etc.

2. the branch of theology dealing with such matters.

---

eschatology British  

/ ˌɛskəˈtɒlədʒɪ, ˌɛskətəˈlɒdʒɪkəl /

noun

1. the branch of theology or biblical exegesis concerned with the end of the world

---

Other Word Forms

• eschatological adjective
• eschatologically adverb
• eschatologist noun

Etymology

Origin of eschatology

First recorded in 1835–45; from Greek éschato(s) “last” + -logy

Example Sentences

“We are seeing a substantially greater interest in what we would term eschatology or teachings on the end times,” Mr. Bekker said.

From Washington Times • Oct. 26, 2023

Wells introduced the general public to the eschatology of thermodynamics.

From Salon • Oct. 8, 2023

Can one find the origins of the welfare state in postmillennialist eschatology?

From New York Times • Jan. 26, 2021

Flavors of a depressing Hegelian eschatology put me off the thing for years.

From Slate • Jan. 23, 2020

He wished to learn the eschatology of the world; he dared to contemplate the Mind of God.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan