micropaleontology

[mahy-kroh-pey-lee-uhn-tol-uh-jee, -pal-ee-]

noun

1. the branch of paleontology dealing with the study of microscopic fossils.

micropaleontology

1. The branch of paleontology that deals with microfossils.

Other Word Forms

• micropaleontological adjective
• micropaleontologic adjective
• micropaleontologist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of micropaleontology¹

First recorded in 1880–85; micro- + paleontology

Example Sentences

Malcolm Hart, emeritus professor of micropaleontology at the University of Plymouth in England and the study's lead researcher, explained that the attack was horrific.

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“It really shows how tenacious life is,” said Reed Scherer, a micropaleontology professor at Northern Illinois University.

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