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 /

noun

1. the study, design, and manufacture of microscopes

2. investigation by use of a microscope

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Other Word 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

See Examples For:

microscopy

Standard electron microscopy commonly involves chemically fixing and dehydrating tissue, steps that can alter the structures scientists are trying to observe.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 17, 2026

Using powerful atomic force microscopy, researchers watched short pieces of DNA align with extraordinary precision, matching one another groove for groove.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 10, 2026

Additional experiments involving electron microscopy, molecular biology, and electrophysiology revealed another surprise.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 20, 2026

To find out, the researchers turned to advanced microscopy and spectroscopy.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 9, 2026

But there was more to Micrographia than microscopy.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin