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
4
: environment, climate
the moral ecology
also
: an often delicate or intricate system or complex
the ecology of language
Examples of ecology in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The island’s ecology shifted fundamentally, and the loss of those apex predators left a gap that persists to this day.
—
Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Mar. 2026
The island’s ecology shifted, and the loss of those apex predators left a gap that persists to this day.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 17 Mar. 2026
The intertidal zone is a sensitive yet rich environment for the Bay Area’s ecology.
—Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
Ehrlich founded Stanford’s Center for Nature and Society in 1984 and wrote more than 40 books and over 1,100 scientific articles on ecology, the environment and population dynamics.
—The Conversation, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ecology
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Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Mar. 2026
The island’s ecology shifted, and the loss of those apex predators left a gap that persists to this day.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 17 Mar. 2026
The intertidal zone is a sensitive yet rich environment for the Bay Area’s ecology.
—Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
Ehrlich founded Stanford’s Center for Nature and Society in 1984 and wrote more than 40 books and over 1,100 scientific articles on ecology, the environment and population dynamics.
—The Conversation, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ecology
Cite this Entry
“Ecology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ecology. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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
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