cosmology

noun cos·mol·o·gy \ käz-ˈmä-lə-jē \

|Updated on: 26 Jul 2018

Editor's Note: cosmology and Star Trek

Definition of cosmology

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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cosmological

play \ˌkäz-mə-ˈlä-ji-kəl\ adjective

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cosmologically

play \ˌkäz-mə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

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cosmologist

play \käz-ˈmä-lə-jist\ noun

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Recent Examples of cosmology from the Web

Her book, an Afrofuturist fantasy epic steeped in West African cosmology, earned one of the biggest advances in YA history.

— constance grady, Vox, "Tomi Adeyemi on writing YA about black girls: “I didn’t think black people could be in stories”," 5 June 2018
Remember, Virgo, within each person is a complex cosmology.

— aliza kelly faragher, Allure, "What July's Virgo Horoscope Means for You," 29 June 2018
The old cosmologies were onto something after all, suggests Jones.

— special to the oregonian, OregonLive.com, "Quake expert Lucy Jones examines natural disaster and human denial in 'The Big Ones'," 18 Apr. 2018
Each of us contains our own personal cosmology, and with the sun in your sign, your genuine spirit will be radiating.

— aliza kelly faragher, Allure, "What June's Cancer Horoscope Means for You," 29 May 2018
Perhaps the simulations' single biggest lesson so far is not that scientists need to revise their overarching theory of cosmology, but rather that problems lurk in their understanding of astrophysics at smaller scales.

— adrian cho, Science | AAAS, "Galaxy simulations are at last matching reality—and producing surprising insights into cosmic evolution," 30 May 2018
The 1,300-mile road trip looms large in the cosmology of Ruscha and, by extension, of modern American art.

— mark rozzo, Vanities, "Ed Ruscha Still Has Plenty More to Say About America," 30 May 2018
To put it crudely, do cosmology and the geometry of string theory really matter when the pressing task is boosting development or tackling social problems on the African continent?

— The Economist, "An ambitious African-science project is getting into its stride," 5 Apr. 2018
Even larger than the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven was designed and laid out in strict accordance with ancient cosmology and numerology to reinforce the legitimacy of the emperor's divine ordination.

— mei zhang, Town & Country, "How to Plan a Trip to China," 5 Oct. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cosmology.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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.