geography
jee-OG-ruh-fee
Geography (noun) means the study of the earth's physical features and how people interact with them. Example: “Geography teaches us why some regions have deserts while others have rainforests.”
noun
1
The study of the earth's physical features and how people interact with them.
"Geography teaches us why some regions have deserts while others have rainforests."
"She majored in geography at university."
"The geography class covered mountains, rivers, and climate."
2
The physical layout or arrangement of a particular place.
"The odd geography of the old house meant you had to cross the kitchen to reach the stairs."
"Walkers should study the geography of the valley before choosing a route."
"The geography of the office made it hard to find a quiet corner."
How to use geography
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the school subject about the earth's landscapes, or, informally, how a place is laid out.
Common pairings
study geography
the geography of the region
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Word forms
- Plural
- geographies
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_____ teaches us why some regions have deserts while others have rainforests.
Etymology
From Greek ge ("earth") plus grapho ("to write"), via Latin geographia and French géographie.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for geography
biography
demography
tomography
ideography
topography
lithography
iconography
mammography
discography
paleography
photography
pornography
See all rhymes for geography →
Frequently asked questions
What does “geography” mean?
The word “geography” means the study of the earth's physical features and how people interact with them. In plain terms, either the school subject about the earth's landscapes, or, informally, how a place is laid out.
How do you pronounce “geography”?
“Geography” is pronounced jee-OG-ruh-fee (/d͡ʒiˈɑɡɹəfi/ in IPA).
How do you use “geography” in a sentence?
Here is “geography” used in a sentence: “She majored in geography at university.”
What is another word for “geography”?
Words with a similar meaning to “geography” include loo.
What part of speech is “geography”?
“Geography” is a noun.
Where does the word “geography” come from?
The word “geography” comes from Latin. From Greek ge ("earth") plus grapho ("to write"), via Latin geographia and French géographie.
Is “geography” a common word?
“Geography” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “geography” have?
“Geography” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the study of the earth's physical features and how people interact with them.
What is the difference between geography and geology?
Geography is the study of the earth's surface: its physical features and how people live on and interact with them. Geology studies what the earth is made of, examining rocks, minerals, and the processes that shape the planet's structure. A geographer might map a river valley; a geologist explains the rock beneath it.
What are the two main branches of geography?
Geography is usually divided into physical geography, which studies natural features such as mountains, rivers, and climate, and human geography, which studies how people, settlements, and economies relate to the land. Most school geography courses combine both branches.
Can geography refer to a place itself rather than the school subject?
Yes. Geography also means the physical layout or arrangement of a particular place, as in 'the geography of the city makes cycling difficult'. In this sense it describes how a place is laid out rather than the academic discipline.
What is the difference between geography and topography?
Topography refers specifically to the shape and arrangement of an area's physical features, such as its hills, valleys, and elevation. Geography is the broader study that covers those features plus climate, people, and how humans interact with the land.
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