biology

noun

bi·​ol·​o·​gy bī-ˈä-lə-jē 

1

: a branch of knowledge that deals with living organisms and vital processes

advances in the field of biology

a biology textbook

2

a

: the plant and animal life of a region or environment

the biology of the rainforest

b

: the life processes especially of an organism or group

the biology of cancer cells

broadly : ecology

biologist

bī-ˈä-lə-jist 

noun

Examples of biology in a Sentence

advances in the field of biology

the biology of the rain forest

the biology of tumor cells

Recent Examples on the Web

Then, Lilo encourages Nani to follow her dreams and go to college for marine biology, taking the pressure off the older sister to be both parent and sibling after they were orphaned. —Benjamin Vanhoose, People.com, 24 May 2025

There were fewer funds awarded for research in biotechnology and environmental biology, and less money for the tools, facilities and people that support biological research. —Aatish Bhatia, New York Times, 22 May 2025

Last year, for example, saw the Sanger Institute launch the Generative and Synthetic Genomics research programme, with the aim of building foundational datasets and models to engineer biology. —David Prosser, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025

The youngest Elling took various classes at IVC, including biology, calculus, U.S. history, psychology and writing, with a focus on math. —Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 20 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

German Biologie, from bi- + -logie -logy

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing biology

• cell biology
• developmental biology
• evolutionary biology
• evolutionary developmental biology
• molecular biology

Rhymes for biology

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

Kids Definition

biology

noun

bi·​ol·​o·​gy bī-ˈäl-ə-jē 

1

: a branch of knowledge that deals with living organisms and life processes

2

a

: the plant and animal life of a region or environment

b

: the life processes of an organism or group

biologist

-jəst 

noun

Etymology

from German Biologie "biology," derived from Greek bi-, bio- "life" and -logia "study, science"

Medical Definition

biology

noun

bi·​ol·​o·​gy -jē 

plural biologies

1

: a branch of science that deals with living organisms and vital processes

2

a

: the plant and animal life of a region or environment

b

: the laws and phenomena relating to an organism or group

3

: a treatise on biology