ethology
noun
ethol·o·gy
ē-ˈthä-lə-jē 
1
: a branch of knowledge dealing with human character and with its formation and evolution
2
: the scientific and objective study of animal behavior especially under natural conditions
Examples of ethology in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At the time, the fields of primatology, ethology, anthropology, and all of science were incredibly male-dominated.
—
Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
Goodall later earned a PhD in ethology, the study of animal behavior, from the University of Cambridge.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2025
Research professor Daniel Kruger with the University of Michigan and University at Buffalo works with ethology, the study of human behavior through a biological lens.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Starting in 1961, Goodall returned periodically to Cambridge for what became four years of doctoral studies in ethology.
—Ralph Blumenthal, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
This, the squishy and contentious realm of comparative psychology and cognitive ethology, asks such questions as: Do dogs experience jealousy?
—Sadie Dingfelder, Washington Post, 1 July 2022
Until the publication of the first modern ethology textbook (The Study of Instinct, by Nikolaas Tinbergen) in 1951, however, field work wasn’t an important part of zoology.
—Stephen Armstrong, Wired, 2 Dec. 2021
Melissa Bateson, a professor of ethology at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom, has studied ways to communicate with animals and consulted with Cronin.
—Lorna Collier, Discover Magazine, 3 May 2016
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
Goodall later earned a PhD in ethology, the study of animal behavior, from the University of Cambridge.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2025
Research professor Daniel Kruger with the University of Michigan and University at Buffalo works with ethology, the study of human behavior through a biological lens.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Starting in 1961, Goodall returned periodically to Cambridge for what became four years of doctoral studies in ethology.
—Ralph Blumenthal, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
This, the squishy and contentious realm of comparative psychology and cognitive ethology, asks such questions as: Do dogs experience jealousy?
—Sadie Dingfelder, Washington Post, 1 July 2022
Until the publication of the first modern ethology textbook (The Study of Instinct, by Nikolaas Tinbergen) in 1951, however, field work wasn’t an important part of zoology.
—Stephen Armstrong, Wired, 2 Dec. 2021
Melissa Bateson, a professor of ethology at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom, has studied ways to communicate with animals and consulted with Cronin.
—Lorna Collier, Discover Magazine, 3 May 2016
Cite this Entry
“Ethology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethology. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ethology
noun
ethol·o·gy
ē-ˈthäl-ə-jē
: the scientific study of animal behavior
Medical Definition
ethology
noun
ethol·o·gy
ē-ˈthäl-ə-jē
plural ethologies
: the scientific and objective study of animal behavior especially under natural conditions
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share