astrology

noun

as·​trol·​o·​gy ə-ˈsträ-lə-jē 

1

: the divination of the supposed influences of the stars and planets on human affairs and terrestrial events by their positions and aspects

2

archaic : astronomy

astrological

ˌa-strə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

adjective

astrologically

ˌa-strə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

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The Difference Between Astronomy and Astrology

Some may find it easy to confuse astronomy and astrology. At one time, these two words actually were synonymous (that is, astronomy once meant what astrology means today), but they have since moved apart from each other. In current use, astronomy is concerned with “the study of objects and matter outside the earth's atmosphere,” while astrology is the purported divination of how stars and planets influence our lives. Put bluntly, astronomy is a science, and astrology is not.

Examples of astrology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Elsewhere at Epic Universe, lands themed to How to Train Your Dragon (Isle of Berk), classic Universal monsters (Dark Universe), Harry Potter (The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic), and astrology (Celestial Park) are in the works. —EW.com, 2 May 2024

An amateur student of astrology, Haley (Harriet Slater) warns them off toying with somebody else’s cards, but Elise convinces her to do readings for each member of the group. —Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 2 May 2024

More astrology: The Personality of an Aries, Explained Learn More About Your Zodiac Sign Read Your April Horoscope Now, watch this: Follow Allure on Instagram and TikTok, or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all things beauty. —Emily Newhouse, Allure, 5 Apr. 2024

But those stars also tell another story, and that is how astrology is impacted by this cyclical alignment of the sun, the moon and the earth. —Kristine Johnson, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2024

But, as Lasker noted, they were derived not from mythology, but from astrology, which Holst had been introduced to in 1913, on a visit to the Spanish island of Mallorca, with the writer Clifford Bax and his composer brother, Arnold. —Hugh Morris, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024

Earth’s Precession Explained There’s no need to get too judgemental about astrology. —Jamie Carter, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024

According to other Hindu legends, all nine planets of Vedic astrology are said to live in the belly of the god Ganesha or in the tail of the god Hanuman. —Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024

Gordon acknowledges that, for some, astrology is all smoke and mirrors, but encourages an open mind. —Kristine Johnson, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English astrologie "study of celestial bodies, prediction by observing the configuration of celestial bodies," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French astrologie, borrowed from Latin astrologia "study of celestial bodies," borrowed from Greek astrología, from astro- astro- + -logia -logy

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

astrology

noun

as·​trol·​o·​gy ə-ˈsträl-ə-jē 

: the study of the supposed influences of the stars on human affairs by their positions in relation to each other

astrologer

-jər

noun

astrological

ˌas-trə-ˈläj-i-kəl 

adjective

astrologically

-k(ə-)lē 

adverb