ecology

noun ecol·o·gy \ i-ˈkä-lə-jē , e- \

Updated on: 19 Apr 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

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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

In a world whose ecology is changing so fast, only a special kind of obsessive would concern himself with saving endangered plant species.

— New York Times, "New & Noteworthy," 10 Apr. 2018
Sea otters make the ecology of the outer coast complete.

— lynda v. mapes, The Seattle Times, "From Seattle to Vancouver: See how Rialto the otter, once near death, is thriving," 24 Mar. 2018
The purpose of the conference is to highlight recent management and research of red snapper ecology offshore of Alabama.

— frank sargeant, AL.com, "White bass, wild turkeys and red snapper in the outdoor news," 21 Mar. 2018
As researchers have sequenced the influenza viruses found in ducks and other birds, as well as people, swine and other animals, a picture of viral ecology based in nature has come into focus.

— jonathan runstadler, Scientific American, "Influenza's Wild Origins in the Animals around Us," 11 Mar. 2018
The program started inside the Hope Rod and Gun Club clubhouse at 10 a.m. Basic instruction was given on hunter and firearm safety, ecology, hunting techniques and cleaning and meal preparation of wild game.

— paul a. smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Smith: Food, females and adults bright spots in hunting recruitment efforts," 10 Feb. 2018
Burgio is a postdoctoral fellow in ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Connecticut.

— kevin r. burgio, Washington Post, "The mysterious and tragic story of the Carolina parakeet, America’s only native parrot," 31 Mar. 2018
Whereas our ancestors lived through transformations of landscape and ecology, climate change would impact many more things that affect our daily life, said Sam White, history associate professor at The Ohio State University.

— ashley strickland, CNN, "11,000 years ago, our ancestors survived abrupt climate change," 26 Mar. 2018
NHAs protect the history, culture, ecology, and landscapes of regions such as the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor.

— frank abderholden, Lake County News-Sun, "Lake County environmental groups praise Great Lakes funding in federal spending bill," 23 Mar. 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