zoology

noun

zo·​ol·​o·​gy zō-ˈä-lə-jē  zə-ˈwä- 

1

: a branch of biology concerned with the classification and the properties and vital phenomena of animals

2

a

: animal life (as of a region) : fauna

b

: the properties and vital phenomena exhibited by an animal, animal type, or group

zoologist

zō-ˈä-lə-jist 

zə-ˈwä-

noun

Examples of zoology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Kenny Travouillon, a terrestrial zoology curator at Western Australian Museum, said that the findings of the new study further confirm that fluorescence is common in mammals. —Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025

The team’s analysis, published in Royal Society Open Science, included more than 50 shark species and provides some of the best empirical evidence to date for some kind of firm scaling rule in zoology. —Quanta Magazine, 27 Oct. 2025

Fun Facts: Terri studied zoology in college and loves nature photography. —Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025

About half of all applicants are accepted to Ohio Wesleyan, and popular majors include zoology and animal biology; psychology; and sports, kinesiology, and physical education. —Emma Whitford, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin zoologia "study of animals" (in early use often in reference to animals as the source of medicines), from zoo- zoo- + -logia -logy

First Known Use

1663, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for zoology

• anthology
• apology
• astrology
• biology
• christology
• chronology
• conchology
• cosmology
• cryptology
• cytology
• doxology
• ecology

Kids Definition

zoology

noun

zo·​ol·​o·​gy zō-ˈäl-ə-jē  zə-ˈwäl- 

: a branch of biology concerned with the animal kingdom and animal life

Medical Definition

zoology

noun

zo·​ol·​o·​gy zō-ˈäl-ə-jē 

plural zoologies

1

: a branch of biology that deals with the classification and the properties and vital phenomena of animals

2

: the properties and vital phenomena exhibited by an animal, animal type, or group