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
Review the sources used below for this article: Sam Walters is a journalist covering archaeology, paleontology, ecology, and evolution for Discover, along with an assortment of other topics.
—
Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 27 June 2025
Attenborough, at age ninety-nine, reflects on his iconic career, including the horrific declines and astonishing recoveries he’s witnessed over decades of immersion in the planet’s diverse oceanic ecology.
—Audiofile Magazine
june 27, Literary Hub, 27 June 2025
Marc Bekoff, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado and author of a number of books on animal welfare, rights and behavior, takes a more upbeat view of the laws.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
Implementing this approach requires synthesizing cross-sector expertise, drawing on ecology, anthropology, finance, and other fields, to codify best practices for capturing intangible values.
—The Sorenson Impact Institute, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ecology
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 27 June 2025
Attenborough, at age ninety-nine, reflects on his iconic career, including the horrific declines and astonishing recoveries he’s witnessed over decades of immersion in the planet’s diverse oceanic ecology.
—Audiofile Magazine
june 27, Literary Hub, 27 June 2025
Marc Bekoff, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado and author of a number of books on animal welfare, rights and behavior, takes a more upbeat view of the laws.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
Implementing this approach requires synthesizing cross-sector expertise, drawing on ecology, anthropology, finance, and other fields, to codify best practices for capturing intangible values.
—The Sorenson Impact Institute, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ecology
Cite this Entry
“Ecology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ecology. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share