noun
Uncommon
archaeology
ah-kee-OL-uh-jee
Archaeology (noun) means the study of past human societies through the excavation and analysis of buildings, tools, and other physical remains. Example: “She switched her major to archaeology after visiting Pompeii.”
noun
1
The study of past human societies through the excavation and analysis of buildings, tools, and other physical remains.
"The building's developers have asked for some archaeology to be undertaken."
"She studied archaeology at Edinburgh University."
"She switched her major to archaeology after visiting Pompeii."
"Archaeology has revealed much about how ancient cities were built."
"Archaeology students spent the summer carefully digging up pottery at a field site."
"The archaeology will tell us which methods of burial were used by the Ancient Greeks."
How to use archaeology
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe scientific study of history through physical remains dug up from the ground, rather than written records alone.
Common pairings
study archaeology
field of archaeology
marine archaeology
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Word forms
- Plural
- archaeologies
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She switched her major to _____ after visiting Pompeii.
Etymology
From Greek arkhaiologia, "study of ancient things", from arkhaios, "ancient", plus logos, "study".
Synonyms
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excavation studies
archeology
Rhymes for archaeology
See all rhymes for archaeology →Frequently asked questions
What does “archaeology” mean?
The word “archaeology” means the study of past human societies through the excavation and analysis of buildings, tools, and other physical remains. In plain terms, the scientific study of history through physical remains dug up from the ground, rather than written records alone.
How do you pronounce “archaeology”?
“Archaeology” is pronounced ah-kee-OL-uh-jee (/ˌɑɹ.kiˈɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/ in IPA).
How do you use “archaeology” in a sentence?
Here is “archaeology” used in a sentence: “She switched her major to archaeology after visiting Pompeii.”
What part of speech is “archaeology”?
“Archaeology” is a noun.
Where does the word “archaeology” come from?
The word “archaeology” comes from Greek. From Greek arkhaiologia, "study of ancient things", from arkhaios, "ancient", plus logos, "study".
Is “archaeology” a common word?
“Archaeology” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between archaeology and anthropology?
Archaeology studies past human societies specifically through the excavation and analysis of buildings, tools, and other physical remains. Anthropology is broader, covering culture, language, biology, and history of human beings generally, and archaeology is sometimes considered one of its branches. Archaeology's defining feature is its reliance on physical, excavated evidence rather than living cultures or languages.
What is the difference between archaeology and paleontology?
Archaeology focuses on past human societies and their physical remains, such as buildings and tools, while paleontology studies ancient life forms, including fossils of plants and animals, often predating humans entirely. The key distinction is that archaeology is specifically about human history and culture.
What kinds of physical remains do archaeologists study?
Archaeologists study buildings, tools, and other physical remains left behind by past human societies, using excavation and analysis to reconstruct how people lived. This evidence-based approach is what defines archaeology as a discipline focused on material remains rather than written records alone.
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