noun

etymology

et-ih-MOL-uh-jee

Etymology (noun) means the origin and history of a word, including the earlier forms and languages it came from and how its meaning has shifted. Example: “The etymology of 'salary' goes back to the Latin word for salt.”

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noun

The origin and history of a word, including the earlier forms and languages it came from and how its meaning has shifted.

"The etymology of 'salary' goes back to the Latin word for salt."

"Nobody agrees on the etymology of 'jazz'."

The branch of linguistics that studies where words come from and how they change over time.

"She studied etymology alongside historical phonology."

How to use etymology

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe story of where a word came from and how it got its meaning.

Memory tip

A specialist is an 'etymologist'; the adjective is 'etymological'.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

entomology etiology → epistemology

Common pairings

the etymology of uncertain etymology folk etymology disputed etymology

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ of 'salary' goes back to the Latin word for salt.

Etymology

From Greek etymon ('true sense, original meaning') plus -logia ('study of'), via Latin etymologia.

Origin: Greek

Synonyms

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word origin derivation word history provenance

Related words

origin extraction cradle lineage ancestry derivation provenance

Rhymes for etymology

eulogy apology zoology biology ecology analogy geology trilogy etiology pedagogy theology ideology

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between etymology and entomology?

Etymology is the study of where words come from; entomology is the study of insects. The pair are famously confused. Remember that 'ent-' relates to insects, as in 'entomologist', while 'etym-' points to a word's true origin.

What is a folk etymology?

A folk etymology is a popular but false explanation of a word's origin, often invented to make an unfamiliar word look sensible. It can also change spelling for real: 'crayfish' comes from Old French crevice, reshaped because English speakers heard 'fish' in it.

Does a word's etymology tell you what it really means?

No. Assuming it does is called the etymological fallacy. 'Nice' once meant 'ignorant' and 'decimate' once meant 'kill one in ten', but current usage, not ancestry, decides what a word means today.

What is the meaning of etymology?

"etymology" (noun) means the origin and history of a word, including the earlier forms and languages it came from and how its meaning has shifted.

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