meteorology
Americannoun
-
the science dealing with the atmosphere and its phenomena, including weather and climate.
-
the atmospheric conditions and weather of an area.
noun
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing meteorology
Power Suffix: -ology
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Physical Geography - Introductory
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Weather and Climate - Introductory
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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.
In a 2025 paper in the Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, I documented one of the clearest examples of self-correction failure in climate research that I’ve encountered in nearly three decades of research.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026
A new study from the Department of Meteorology and Geophysics at the University of Vienna provides a clearer picture of where these airborne microplastics come from.
From Science Daily • Apr. 24, 2026
Temperatures are expected to peak on Tuesday, reaching the "high forties" Celsius in the southern states of Victoria and South Australia, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
From BBC • Jan. 25, 2026
Cyclone seeds, weather formations that have the potential to become tropical cyclones, are behind the extreme weather, according to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency.
From Barron's • Nov. 26, 2025
Reader in Meteorology in the University of London.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 1 "Evangelical Church Conference" to "Fairbairn, Sir William" by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
