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Synonyms

zoology

American  
[zoh-ol-uh-jee] / zoʊˈɒl ə dʒi /

noun

plural

zoologies

  1. the science or branch of biology dealing with animals.

  2. a treatise on zoology.

  3. the animal life of a particular region.

zoology British  
/ ˌzəʊəˈlɒdʒɪkəl, zəʊˈɒlədʒɪ, zuː-, ˌzuːə- /

noun

  1. the study of animals, including their classification, structure, physiology, and history

  2. the biological characteristics of a particular animal or animal group

  3. the fauna characteristic of a particular region

  4. a book, treatise, etc, dealing with any aspect of the study of animals

"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
zoology Scientific  
/ zō-ŏl′ə-jē,zo̅o̅-ŏl′- /

  1. The scientific study of organisms in the kingdom Animalia, including their growth and structure.

zoology Cultural  

  1. The scientific study and classification of animals. (See Linnean classification.)

Other Word Forms

  • zoological adjective
  • zoologist noun

Etymology

Origin of zoology

First recorded in 1660–70; zoo- + -logy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Ants are everywhere," said lead author Arthur Matte, a Ph.D. student in zoology at the University of Cambridge.

From Science Daily • Dec. 22, 2025

As a graduate student in zoology in the 1960s, the Scotsman Iain Douglas-Hamilton took on a dilemma in East Africa.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025

There are ventures that celebrate fast food, Finnish folk art, Skid Row, skateboarding, historical glass, vertebrate zoology and more.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2025

With a PhD in zoology, he had built a global reputation for his expertise, even hosting Sir David Attenborough while the veteran broadcaster filmed part of the Life in Cold Blood docuseries on his property.

From BBC • Aug. 8, 2024

They even shared his interest in natural history, geology, and zoology.

From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.