physical geography

American  

noun

1. the branch of geography concerned with natural features and phenomena of the earth's surface, as landforms, drainage features, climates, soils, and vegetation.

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physical geography British  

noun

1. the branch of geography that deals with the natural features of the earth's surface

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physical geography Scientific  

1. The scientific study of the natural features of the Earth's surface, especially in its current aspects, including land formation, climate, currents, and distribution of flora and fauna.

2. Also called physiography

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Etymology

Origin of physical geography

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

Yet the recent weaponization of supply chains has offered a stark reminder that rather than erasing physical geography, the era of hyperconnectivity has turned it into a possibly more potent weapon.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2026

The majority of sightings were in western parts of the U.S. due to the region's physical geography -- lots of wide-open spaces and dark skies.

From Science Daily • Feb. 28, 2024

Simon Haslett, honorary professor of physical geography at Swansea University, went in search of lost islands in Cardigan Bay while he was a visiting fellow at Jesus College, Oxford.

From BBC • Aug. 20, 2022

Julian Dowdeswell, a professor of physical geography at Cambridge University, organized an expedition to the site in 2019 to scan the conditions on the seafloor and discover the Endurance's final resting place.

From Salon • Jan. 10, 2022

One of his works bearing the title of 'Liber Cosmographicus de Natura Locorum,' is a species of physical geography.

From The Thirteenth Greatest of Centuries by Walsh, James J. (James Joseph)