ecology
2 synonyms for ecology, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The branch of biology that studies how living things relate to each other and to their environment.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
environmental science
bionomics
How to use ecology
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
study ecology
marine ecology
human ecology
Etymology
A loan-translation of German Ökologie, coined in 1866 by the biologist Ernst Haeckel from Greek oîkos ("house") plus -logía ("study of") — literally, the "study of the household" of nature.
Full origin of ecology →Frequently asked questions
What does “ecology” mean?
The word “ecology” means the branch of biology that studies how living things relate to each other and to their environment. In plain terms, the scientific study of how living things and their environment fit together.
How do you pronounce “ecology”?
“Ecology” is pronounced ih-KOL-uh-jee (/ɪˈkɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/ in IPA).
How do you use “ecology” in a sentence?
Here is “ecology” used in a sentence: “She's doing a PhD in the ecology of coral reefs.”
What part of speech is “ecology”?
“Ecology” is a noun.
Where does the word “ecology” come from?
The word “ecology” dates back to around 1866 and comes from German. A loan-translation of German Ökologie, coined in 1866 by the biologist Ernst Haeckel from Greek oîkos ("house") plus -logía ("study of") — literally, the "study of the household" of nature.
Is “ecology” a common word?
“Ecology” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “ecology” have?
“Ecology” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the branch of biology that studies how living things relate to each other and to their environment.
What is the difference between ecology and environmental science?
Ecology is specifically the branch of biology that studies how living things relate to each other and to their environment, focusing on organisms and their interactions. Environmental science is a broader, interdisciplinary field that also includes chemistry, geology, and policy alongside biological relationships.
What is the difference between ecology and the environment?
Ecology is the scientific study of relationships between living things and their surroundings, while the environment refers to the surroundings themselves. In other words, ecology is the field of study, and the environment is what that field studies.
Can ecology refer to something other than nature?
Yes, ecology can also describe the pattern of relationships between the parts of any system and their surroundings, extending beyond biology. For example, people sometimes speak of the 'ecology' of a business market or a social network to describe how its parts interact.
