geography

[jee-og-ruh-fee]

noun

plural

geographies 

1. the science dealing with the areal differentiation of the earth's surface, as shown in the character, arrangement, and interrelations over the world of such elements as climate, elevation, soil, vegetation, population, land use, industries, or states, and of the unit areas formed by the complex of these individual elements.

2. the study of this science.

3. the topographical features of a region, usually of the earth, sometimes of the planets.

4. a book dealing with this science or study, as a textbook.

5. the arrangement of features of any complex entity.

   the geography of the mind.

geography

/ dʒɪˈɒɡrəfɪ, ˌdʒɪəˈɡræfɪkəl /

noun

1. the study of the natural features of the earth's surface, including topography, climate, soil, vegetation, etc, and man's response to them

2. the natural features of a region

3. an arrangement of constituent parts; plan; layout

geography

1. The scientific study of the Earth's surface and its various climates, countries, peoples, and natural resources.

2. The physical characteristics, especially the surface features, of an area.

Other Word Forms

• geographically adverb
• geographical adjective
• geographer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of geography¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin geōgraphia, from Greek geōgraphía “earth description”; equivalent to geo- + -graphy

Example Sentences

“The reality is because of the geography of Johannesburg, it doesn’t work anymore,” said Brian McKechnie, chairman of the Rand Club.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Human geography student Andrew Alvedro, who chose to represent Spain, said there is an "air of anxiety" among young people, but also "a sense of disillusionment."

Read more on BBC

Big firms argue that their expansion into new business lines and geographies has created opportunities for midlevel people to advance.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The jump signals a lack of availability driven by market deficits and trade uncertainties, which have led to pent-up supply locked in certain geographies.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

My sense of geography is already pretty terrible, and that little spinny trick did nothing to help it.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• earth science 
• geology 
• geopolitics 
• topography