garbology

[ gahr-bol-uh-jee ]

noun
  1. the study of the material discarded by a society to learn what it reveals about social or cultural patterns.

Origin of garbology

1
First recorded in 1976; garb(age) + -o- + -logy

Other words from garbology

  • gar·bol·o·gist, noun

Words Nearby garbology

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British Dictionary definitions for garbology

garbology

/ (ɡɑːˈbɒlədʒɪ) /


noun
  1. the study of the contents of domestic dustbins to analyse the consumption patterns of households

Origin of garbology

1
C20: from garb (age) + ology

Derived forms of garbology

  • garbologist, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012