meteorology
Americannoun
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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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
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.
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.
He will graduate next year from the University of Oklahoma, where he studies journalism and meteorology.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 2026
Aubrey Palmer, a meteorology student at Mississippi State University, told the BBC that they and other students had just finished writing a 2,900‑word exam essay when a ransom message suddenly appeared on their screens.
From BBC ● May 12, 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
In Manchester he became something of an intellectual whirlwind, producing books and papers on subjects ranging from meteorology to grammar.
From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson
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.
