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ecology

noun
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ecol·​o·​gy | \ i-ˈkä-lə-jē How to pronounce ecology (audio) , e- \
plural ecologies

Definition of ecology

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
Other Words from ecology More Example Sentences Learn More about ecology

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Other Words from ecology

ecologist \ i-​ˈkä-​lə-​jist How to pronounce ecologist (audio) , e-​ \ noun

Examples of ecology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Studies show New Zealand’s ecology is under pressure. — Washington Post, "For New Zealand's Maoris, even touching this sacred tree is taboo. They let scientists climb to help save it.," 12 Jan. 2020 There’s also concern that radically changing the ecology of large swaths of the ocean could have unintended consequences for the health of ecosystems that much life on Earth depends on. — USA Today, "10 years to save planet Earth: Here are 6 imaginative climate change solutions," 24 Dec. 2019 New Jersey Jersey City: The billionaire owner of a golf club for millionaires has his sights set on expanding his course onto a waterfront portion of Liberty State Park used mostly by children to learn about the ecology of New York Harbor. — USA TODAY, "Liberty State Park, Christmas Tree Lane, time capsule: News from around our 50 states," 3 Dec. 2019 How Chasmaporthetes fits into North America’s ancient ecology is still somewhat hazy. — Riley Black, Smithsonian, "Prehistoric Hyena’s Teeth Show Bone-Crushing Carnivore Roamed the Arctic," 19 June 2019 An article on Monday about climate change’s impact on Iceland’s fishing industry misstated Malin Pinsky’s title in the department of ecology at Rutgers University. — New York Times, "Editors’ Note: Dec. 3, 2019," 2 Dec. 2019 Last week in Beijing, China’s vice minister of ecology and environment told reporters that non-fossil-fuel sources already account for 14.3% of the country’s energy mix. — Christina Larson, Fortune, "As World Leaders Meet to Fight Climate Change, China Adds Coal Plants and Cuts Renewable Funds," 2 Dec. 2019 At night, after spending days at sea on a research boat following blue whales, the conservationists introduced Chami to the marvels of whale ecology. — Ben Guarino, Anchorage Daily News, "Living whales are worth an enormous amount of money," 4 Nov. 2019 That bird is flying weirdly’—that's not science; that's what most of ecology is at the moment. — Gabriel Popkin, Science | AAAS, "Catchy findings have propelled this young ecologist to fame—and enraged his critics," 24 Oct. 2019

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.

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First Known Use of ecology

1875, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for ecology

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

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Learn More about ecology

Time Traveler for ecology

Time Traveler

The first known use of ecology was in 1875

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Statistics for ecology

Last Updated

24 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Ecology.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ecology. Accessed 26 January 2020.

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More Definitions for ecology

ecology

noun
How to pronounce ecology (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of ecology

: 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

See the full definition for ecology in the English Language Learners Dictionary

ecology

noun
ecol·​o·​gy | \ i-ˈkä-lə-jē How to pronounce ecology (audio) \

Kids Definition of ecology

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

ecology

noun
ecol·​o·​gy | \ -jē How to pronounce ecology (audio) \
plural ecologies

Medical Definition of ecology

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

Other Words from ecology

ecological \ ˌē-​kə-​ˈläj-​i-​kəl How to pronounce ecological (audio) , ˌek-​ə-​ How to pronounce ecological (audio) \ also ecologic \ -​ik How to pronounce ecologic (audio) \ adjective
ecologically \ -​i-​k(ə-​)lē How to pronounce ecologically (audio) \ adverb

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More from Merriam-Webster on ecology

Spanish Central: Translation of ecology

Nglish: Translation of ecology for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of ecology for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ecology

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