radiology

American  

[rey-dee-ol-uh-jee] / ˌreɪ diˈɒl ə dʒi /

noun

1. the science dealing with x-rays or nuclear radiation, especially for medical uses.

2. the examination or photographing of organs, bones, etc., with such rays.

3. the interpretation of medical x-ray photographs.

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radiology British  

/ ˌreɪdɪˈɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the use of X-rays and radioactive substances in the diagnosis and treatment of disease

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radiology Scientific  

/ rā′dē-ŏl′ə-jē /

1. The branch of medicine that deals with diagnostic images of anatomic structures through the use of electromagnetic radiation or sound waves and that treats disease through the use of radioactive compounds. Radiologic imaging techniques include x-rays, CAT scans, PET scans, MRIs, and ultrasonograms.

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radiology Cultural  

1. The branch of medicine devoted to the study of images obtained by x-ray, ultrasound, CAT scans, or magnetic resonance imaging, and to the treatment of cancer by radiation therapy.

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Other Word Forms

• radiologist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of radiology

First recorded in 1895–1900; radio- + -logy

Explanation

In medicine, radiology is the specialty that deals with imaging techniques to diagnose or treat disease. If you need an x-ray of your broken thumb, you need an expert in radiology. The area of a hospital where x-rays or MRIs are taken might be referred to as radiology: "We need to get a look at your brain. We'll send you down to radiology." Radiology also takes the form of ultrasound and CT scans, and all of these various techniques are performed by a radiologist. The Latin root is radiationem, "a shining."

Example Sentences

Analyst Suraj Nebhani says lower forecast earnings in telecom business OneNZ and Infratil’s radiology businesses help to explain the guidance miss.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

In hospitals, the employees serve as patient care workers such as radiology technologists, nurse’s aides and patient transporters.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

"In our daily radiology practice, we often diagnose 'fatty liver,'" Dr. Liu said.

From Science Daily • Jan. 28, 2026

He also noted what’s happened in the radiology space: As AI has made advances in image analysis, more radiologists have been hired as they spend more time diagnosing diseases and with patients.

From Barron's • Jan. 21, 2026

I joined Farmer on the Brigham’s radiology floor, in a quiet room where he was discussing various patients with younger doctors, mostly residents, who were his students.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French