archaeology

noun

ar·​chae·​ol·​o·​gy ˌär-kē-ˈä-lə-jē 

variants or archeology

1

: the scientific study of material remains (such as tools, pottery, jewelry, stone walls, and monuments) of past human life and activities

2

: remains of the culture of a people : antiquities

the archaeology of the Incas

archaeological

ˌär-kē-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

adjective

archaeologically

ˌär-kē-ə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

archaeologist

ˌär-kē-ˈä-lə-jist 

noun

Examples of archaeology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Matthieu Poux, an archaeology professor at the University of Lyon II who had been among those skeptical that Lutetia was on the Île de la Cité, told the Times the find changed his mind. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Metcalfe writes mainly about science, space, archaeology, Earth and the oceans. — Tom Metcalfe, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2026

The 4,000-year-old skeletal remains from the bio-archaeology lab? — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

The Pitt Rivers Museum, one of the world's leading institutions for anthropology, ethnology and archaeology, holds over 6,000 Naga artifacts. — CBS News, 7 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French archéologie, from Late Latin archaeologia antiquarian lore, from Greek archaiologia, from archaio- + -logia -logy

First Known Use

1782, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing archaeology

• industrial archaeology

Rhymes for archaeology

• aetiology
• anthropology
• archeology
• audiology
• cardiology
• climatology
• cohomology
• cosmetology
• criminology
• demonology
• dermatology
• egyptology

Kids Definition

archaeology

noun

ar·​chae·​ol·​o·​gy

variants or archeology

ˌär-kē-ˈäl-ə-jē 

: the science that deals with past human life as shown by fossil relics and the monuments and tools left by ancient peoples

archaeological

-kē-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl 

adjective

archaeologist

-kē-ˈäl-ə-jəst 

noun