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Synonyms

meteorology

American  
[mee-tee-uh-rol-uh-jee] / ˌmi ti əˈrɒl ə dʒi /

noun

  • meteorologies
    plural
  1. the science dealing with the atmosphere and its phenomena, including weather and climate.

  2. the atmospheric conditions and weather of an area.


meteorology British  
/ ˌmiːtɪəˈrɒlədʒɪ /

noun

  1. the study of the earth's atmosphere, esp of weather-forming processes and weather forecasting

"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

meteorology Scientific  
/ mē′tē-ə-rŏl′ə-jē /
  1. The scientific study of the atmosphere and of atmospheric conditions, especially as they relate to weather and weather forecasting.


meteorology Cultural  
  1. The study of the weather and climate.


Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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Nouns

Etymology

Origin of meteorology

First recorded in 1610–20; from Greek meteōrología “discussion of celestial phenomena”; see meteor, -o-, -logy

Explanation

When the weather man tells you it's going to rain today, he is giving a meteorology report, or weather forecast. Meteorology is the study of our atmosphere. Meteorology comes from the Greek meteōrologia meaning "of the atmosphere." While meteorology involves various branches including aviation and agricultural studies, most commonly we see it in our everyday lives through weather forecasting, a process that involves collecting data about an atmosphere to determine what the weather will be. If you're fascinated by storms and hurricanes, consider a career in meteorology.

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Vocabulary lists containing meteorology

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

“Our priority is ensuring Kalshi’s settlements rest on objective, scientifically validated atmospheric data,” said James Belanger, vice president of meteorology at the Weather Co.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

He will graduate next year from the University of Oklahoma, where he studies journalism and meteorology.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 2026

The French meteorology agency has filed a police complaint over suspected tampering with its data-processing system after a Polymarket bettor won big on an unusual temperature reading.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 23, 2026

"Wood burning emissions enter the atmosphere, where they are affected by meteorology," Horton said.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 26, 2026

The first result was The Method, which appeared in 1637, accompanied by three essays, on meteorology, optics and geometry.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

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