botany

noun

bot·​a·​ny ˈbä-tə-nē 

ˈbät-nē

plural botanies

1

: a branch of biology dealing with plant life

2

a

: plant life

b

: the properties and life phenomena exhibited by a plant, plant type, or plant group

3

: a botanical treatise or study

especially : a particular system of botany

botanist

ˈbä-tə-nist 

ˈbät-nist

noun

Examples of botany in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Also on the trail of coca in the early 1970s was Dr. Andrew Weil, a graduate of Harvard Medical School with a profound knowledge of medicinal botany. —Wade Davis, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2025

In the pursuit of deeper rest, embracing botany in the bedroom is a transformative choice. —Rebecca Torres, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2025

Learn about the botany, seed propagation and division propagation of bulbs as well as the culture and care of bulbs in containers and the ground. —Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2025

Today, her legacy is reflected in the growing movement toward native plant gardening, sustainable landscaping, and the integration of botany into everyday life activities such as homemaking, gardening, decorating, and entertaining. —Britney Porter, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

botanic botanical + -y entry 2

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for botany

• cottony
• ethnobotany
• monotony
• paleobotany

Kids Definition

botany

noun

bot·​a·​ny ˈbät-ᵊn-e 

ˈbät-ne

1

: a branch of biology dealing with plant life

2

a

: plant life (as of a given region)

b

: the biology of a plant or plant group

Medical Definition

botany

noun

bot·​a·​ny ˈbät-ᵊn-ē, ˈbät-nē 

plural botanies

1

: a branch of biology dealing with plant life

2

a

: plant life

b

: the properties and life phenomena exhibited by a plant, plant type, or plant group

3

: a botanical treatise or study

especially : a particular system of botany