microscopy

American  

[mahy-kros-kuh-pee, mahy-kruh-skoh-pee] / maɪˈkrɒs kə pi, ˈmaɪ krəˌskoʊ pi /

noun

1. the use of the microscope.

2. microscopic investigation.

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microscopy British  

/ maɪˈkrɒskəpɪ, maɪˈkrɒskəpɪst /

noun

1. the study, design, and manufacture of microscopes

2. investigation by use of a microscope

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• microscopist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of microscopy

First recorded in 1655–65; microscope + -y ³

Explanation

Microscopy is the field of using a special instrument to observe things that are otherwise too small to see. If you yearn to study amoebas or bacteria up close, you'll want to pursue microscopy! Microscopy is an area of scientific research that specializes in using microscopes. Both words are derived from the Greek roots mikros, "small," and skopein, "to examine." While microscopy is a technical field, if you make a habit of examining tiny things up close with the help of a microscope — drops of rainwater, an insect wing, your cat's fur — that's microscopy too.

Example Sentences

They then used electron microscopy to capture millions of images showing neurons and their connections.

From Science Daily • Jun. 10, 2026

Using electron microscopy, they found that the iron-rich macrophages sit close to nerve fibers.

From Science Daily • May 31, 2026

Using cutting edge super resolution microscopy, they mapped the glycocalyx at the level of individual sugar molecules across many different types of cells.

From Science Daily • May 18, 2026

Using cryo-electron microscopy, the team was able to observe how DHX29 physically interacts with the 80S ribosome, the cellular machinery responsible for protein production.

From Science Daily • Apr. 9, 2026

Micrographia really did mark the moment when microscopy came of age as a scientific discipline.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin