cosmology
noun
cos·mol·o·gy
käz-ˈmä-lə-jē 
plural cosmologies
1
a
: a branch of metaphysics that deals with the nature of the universe
b
: a theory or doctrine describing the natural order of the universe
2
: a branch of astronomy that deals with the origin, structure, and space-time relationships of the universe
also
: a theory dealing with these matters
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Cosmology and Star Trek
Most religions and cultures include some kind of cosmology to explain the nature of the universe. In modern astronomy, the leading cosmology is still the Big Bang theory, which claims that the universe began with a huge explosion that sent matter and energy spreading out in all directions. One reason why fans watch Star Trek is for the various cosmologies depicted in the show, including different conceptions of space, time, and the meaning of life.
Examples of cosmology in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Creation stories, cosmologies, maps, myths, even cities are all forms of worldbuilding.
—
Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
Cristina Chiappini, PhD, a senior scientist at AIP, noted that the Gaia mission has effectively turned the Milky Way into a near-field cosmology lab.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 5 Mar. 2026
This, according to Christopher Clark’s brilliant A Scandal In Königsberg (Penguin Press, $27), was something like the cosmology of Johann Heinrich Schönherr, whose theosophical doctrine brought a lot of grief to nineteenth-century Prussia.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Harmonia Rosales’ Black figurative paintings combine Eurocentric artistic traditions with African diasporic cosmologies as a way to course-correct the historical erasure of Black images from classical narratives.
—Evan Nicole Brown, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cosmology
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Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
Cristina Chiappini, PhD, a senior scientist at AIP, noted that the Gaia mission has effectively turned the Milky Way into a near-field cosmology lab.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 5 Mar. 2026
This, according to Christopher Clark’s brilliant A Scandal In Königsberg (Penguin Press, $27), was something like the cosmology of Johann Heinrich Schönherr, whose theosophical doctrine brought a lot of grief to nineteenth-century Prussia.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Harmonia Rosales’ Black figurative paintings combine Eurocentric artistic traditions with African diasporic cosmologies as a way to course-correct the historical erasure of Black images from classical narratives.
—Evan Nicole Brown, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cosmology
Cite this Entry
“Cosmology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cosmology. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cosmology
noun
cos·mol·o·gy
käz-ˈmäl-ə-jē
plural cosmologies
: a branch of astronomy that deals with the beginning, structure, and space-time relationships of the universe
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