ecology

noun ecol·o·gy \ i-ˈkä-lə-jē , e- \

|Updated on: 11 Jul 2018

Definition of ecology

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

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ecological

play \ˌē-kə-ˈlä-ji-kəl, ˌe-kə-\ or less commonly ecologic play \ˌē-kə-ˈlä-jik, ˌe-kə-\ adjective

—

ecologically

play \ˌē-kə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē, ˌe-kə-\ adverb

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ecologist

play \i-ˈkä-lə-jist, e-\ noun

See ecology defined for English-language learners

See ecology defined for kids

Recent Examples of ecology from the Web

So scientists at Temple University in Philadelphia have shipped coral into their lab to try to off them there — all to better understand deep-sea ecology.

— dino grandoni, Washington Post, "The Energy 202: Top Park Service official admits he acted inappropriately, but his job appears safe," 29 June 2018
Native plant walks, forest and historical site outings featuring topics such as fire ecology.

— corey sheldon, OregonLive.com, "HG calendar May 26-June 3: garden tours aplenty," 25 May 2018
Justine and the other researchers did not study the soil ecology.

— ben guarino, BostonGlobe.com, "Giant predatory worms invaded France, but scientists just noticed them," 22 May 2018
The Pope has changed the image of the Church not by making substantial revisions to doctrine, but by changing priorities – directing spiritual resources to ecology, poverty, inequality.

— gary thompson, Philly.com, "Wim Wenders' new doc is an absorbing look at Pope Francis," 16 May 2018
That collaboration continued for more than a half-century and established a new field of science, chemical ecology.

— kenneth chang, New York Times, "Jerrold Meinwald, 91, Dies; Studied Creatures’ Chemical Signals," 14 May 2018
In the forest ecology laboratory on campus, graduate student Amanda Asay is studying kin recognition in Douglas firs.

— diàna markosian, Smithsonian, "Do Trees Talk to Each Other?," 22 Feb. 2018
In addition to canoeing, this free outdoor exploration day includes hiking, archery and environmental education about Chicagoland’s ecology and conservation.

— paige fumo fox, Daily Southtown, "Ahoy, paddlers: Local lakes and rivers beckon," 13 June 2018
There’s senior midfielder Tyler Warner, a key to Monday’s game with his faceoff work and an ecology and evolutionary biology major.

— mike anthony, courant.com, "Mike Anthony: Yale Lacrosse Championship Celebrated By Coach Andy Shay, Savored By AD Tom Beckett," 29 May 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of ecology

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1875

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Ecology Terms

Malthusian, anthropogenic, biomass, carbon footprint, crepuscular, niche, sere, symbiosis, taiga, tundra

ECOLOGY Defined for English Language Learners

ecology

noun

Definition of ecology for English Language Learners

: a science that deals with the relationships between groups of living things and their environments
: the relationships between a group of living things and their environment