dendrochronology

noun

den·​dro·​chro·​nol·​o·​gy ˌden-(ˌ)drō-krə-ˈnä-lə-jē How to pronounce dendrochronology (audio)
: the science of dating events and variations in environment in former periods by comparative study of growth rings in trees and aged wood
dendrochronological adjective
dendrochronologically adverb
dendrochronologist noun

Examples of dendrochronology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Archaeologists used dendrochronology, the study of tree rings, to determine the ship was built in the mid-1700s with wood sourced from the south of England. Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 July 2025 The researchers used dendrochronology, or the study of tree rings, to determine the wood for one wreck came from the western region of the Baltic Sea, which included a region of Germany and Denmark, according to the release. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2025 By using radiocarbon dating — a method used to determine the age of organic materials, such as wood from trees — and dendrochronology, the science of dating tree rings, the researchers of the new study determined the Kyrenia’s sinking occurred between 296 BC and 271 BC. Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 26 June 2024 Using dendrochronology techniques, Black has made chronologies of climate shifts in the north Pacific over the last 500 years. The Arizona Republic, 19 Feb. 2024 See All Example Sentences for dendrochronology

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1928, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dendrochronology was circa 1928

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Cite this Entry

“Dendrochronology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dendrochronology. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

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