Main Entry: eti·ol·o·gy

Variant(s): or chiefly British ae·ti·ol·o·gy \ˌēt-ē-ˈäl-ə-jē\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural eti·ol·o·gies

1 : the cause or causes of a disease or abnormal condition <some types of cancer have a viral etiology> <a multiple etiology in which biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors all play a role—M. E. Jackson et al>
2 : a branch of medical science dealing with the causes and origin of diseases