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

Set at the same German university over three time periods spanning two centuries, the plot, which is more like a sketchpad of scenes and ideas, follows a trio of characters each conducting botany experiments that test the communicative powers of nature. —Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025

Hannes, immersed in Rilke, is gradually persuaded that botany has its own romance. —Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025

Classes held during the inaugural season included Bible studies, botany, zoology and music. —Dave Smith, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2025

If anything, some of those accounts only further bolster the hypothesis that the emperor was well-versed in botany. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 July 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