ecology
ih-KOL-uh-jee
Ecology (noun) means the branch of biology that studies how living things relate to each other and to their environment. Example: “She's doing a PhD in the ecology of coral reefs.”
noun
1
The branch of biology that studies how living things relate to each other and to their environment.
"As a graduate student, he was working on a thesis: The Ecology of the Black Creek Area. He had to investigate the relationships, past and present, of men and plants and animals in this region."
— George R. Stewart, Earth Abides (1949)
"She's doing a PhD in the ecology of coral reefs."
"As in much of biology, the most satisfying truths in ecology derive from manipulative experimentation. Tinker with nature and quantify how it responds."
— Robert M. Pringle, How to Be Manipulative (2012)
"Our ecology lesson was about how frogs, insects and plants depend on a pond."
"Ecology helps scientists understand how a forest changes after a fire."
2
The pattern of relationships between the parts of any system and their surroundings.
"Researchers mapped the ecology of the local business network."
"The ecology of a busy city market depends on traders, shoppers and delivery drivers."
"Teachers studied the ecology of the school, from the timetable to the playground."
How to use ecology
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe scientific study of how living things and their environment fit together.
Common pairings
study ecology
marine ecology
human ecology
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Word forms
- Plural
- ecologies
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She's doing a PhD in the _____ of coral reefs.
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.
Synonyms
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environmental science
bionomics
Rhymes for ecology
See all rhymes for 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.
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