ecology

noun

ecol·​o·​gy i-ˈkä-lə-jē 

e-

plural ecologies

1

: a branch of science concerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their environments

2

: the totality or pattern of relations between organisms and their environment

3

: human ecology

4

: environment, climate

the moral ecology

also : an often delicate or intricate system or complex

the ecology of language

ecologist

i-ˈkä-lə-jist 

e-

noun

Examples of ecology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Similar to what scientists have seen among diseases carried by ticks and mosquitoes, pest habitat ranges are expanding globally due to changes in environment, ecology and populations. — Sarah Tomlinson, The Conversation, 24 July 2026

Ecological overview In ecology the environment consists of living organisms and nonliving elements—such as air, water, soil, and climate—that surround and interact with one another. — Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026

Food emerged not simply as nourishment, but as a living archive of migration, ecology, memory and ancestral knowledge. — Gerald J. Leonard, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Complex weather and ecology muddies the effect The effects of the climate cycle on wildfires are muddied by countless other weather and ecological factors. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

German Ökologie, from öko- eco- + -logie -logy

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ecology

• deep ecology
• human ecology

Rhymes for ecology

• anthology
• apology
• astrology
• biology
• christology
• chronology
• conchology
• cosmology
• cryptology
• cytology
• doxology
• ethnology

Kids Definition

ecology

noun

ecol·​o·​gy i-ˈkäl-ə-jē 

e-

1

: a branch of science concerned with the relationships between living things and their environment

2

: the pattern of relationships between a group of living things and their environment

ecological

ˌē-kə-ˈläj-i-kəl  ˌek-ə- 

adjective

also ecologic

-ˈläj-ik 

ecologically

-ˈläj-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

ecology

noun

ecol·​o·​gy -jē 

plural ecologies

1

: a branch of science concerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their environments

2

: the totality or pattern of relations between organisms and their environment

3

: human ecology

ecological

ˌē-kə-ˈläj-i-kəl  ˌek-ə- 

adjective

also ecologic

-ik 

ecologically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb