teratology

[ ter-uh-tol-uh-jee ]

/ ˌtɛr əˈtɒl ə dʒi /

Save This Word!

noun Biology.

the science or study of monstrosities or abnormal formations in organisms.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of teratology

First recorded in 1670–80; terato- + -logy

OTHER WORDS FROM teratology

ter·a·to·log·i·cal

[ter-uh-tl-oj-i-kuhl], /ˌtɛr ə tlˈɒdʒ ɪ kəl/, adjectiveter·a·tol·o·gist, noun

Words nearby teratology

teratism, terato-, teratogen, teratogenesis, teratoid, teratology, teratoma, teratophobia, teratosis, Te Rauparaha, terbia

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use teratology in a sentence

One may say, then, that a being possessing both arms and wings is a monster and belongs to the department of Teratology.
The Revolt of the Angels|Anatole France
Ter′atoid, monstrous; Teratolog′ic, -al, pertaining to teratology.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements)|Various
Teratology, the branch of biology which treats of malformations or departures from the normal type.
The Nuttall Encyclopaedia|Edited by Rev. James Wood
Teratology ( , a monster) is a part of biology that treats of deviation from a normal development in man and the lower animals.
Essays In Pastoral Medicine|Austin Malley

Be this as it may, teratology owes a very large number of its records to this class of observers.
Vegetable Teratology|Maxwell T. Masters

British Dictionary definitions for teratology

teratology

/ (ˌtɛrəˈtɒlədʒɪ) /

noun

the branch of medical science concerned with the development of physical abnormalities during the fetal or early embryonic stage

the branch of biology that is concerned with the structure, development, etc, of monsters

a collection of tales about mythical or fantastic creatures, monsters, etc

Derived forms of teratology

teratologic (ˌtɛrətəˈlɒdʒɪk) or teratological, adjectiveteratologist, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for teratology

teratology

[ tĕr′ə-tŏl′ə-jē ]

The scientific study of birth defects.