etymology

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noun et·y·mol·o·gy \ ˌe-tə-ˈmä-lə-jē \

Definition of etymology

plural etymologies

1 :the history of a linguistic form (such as a word) shown by tracing its development since its earliest recorded occurrence in the language where it is found, by tracing its transmission from one language to another, by analyzing it into its component parts, by identifying its cognates in other languages, or by tracing it and its cognates to a common ancestral form in an ancestral language

2 :a branch of linguistics concerned with etymologies

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etymological

play \ˌe-tə-mə-ˈlä-ji-kəl\ adjective

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etymologically

play \ˌe-tə-mə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

See etymology defined for English-language learners

See etymology defined for kids

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Examples of etymology in a Sentence

Visible just beneath the entries are tantalizing glimpses of the lexicographer's craft: scouring periodicals for fresh coinages, poring over competing dictionaries in search of elusive etymologies and hounding writers and scholars in the service of … "ear candy" or plain old "duh." —Margalit Fox, New York Times Book Review, 18 June 1995
Professionals have always tried to seal the borders of their trade and to snipe at any outsider with a pretense to amateur enthusiasm (although amateurs who truly love their subject, as the etymology of their status proclaims, often acquire far more expertise than the average time-clock-punching breadwinner). —Stephen Jay Gould, Natural History, February 1991
True etymology, if there is such a thing, seeks to displace our attention back in time, to roots, whereas the "popular" variety tries to update words, to familiarize them where the so-called science estranges them. —Walter Redfern, Puns, 1984
Several different etymologies have been proposed.

Recent Examples of etymology from the Web

If the name Conshohocken confuses your out-of-town friends, here’s a little contested etymology.

— shannon rooney, Philly.com, "Property Line: Conshohocken homes under $350,000," 21 Aug. 2017
One of Simone’s favorite tips: having a suitcase of words and a toolbox for a word’s etymology.

— carli teproff, miamiherald, "The number 13 doesn’t scare this super speller," 28 May 2017
The event includes a trout lunch, an ice cream social, fly-tying lessons, an etymology exhibit, Morris (English folk) dancing and live music.

— mary divine, Twin Cities, "Marine on St. Croix marks 20th year of spring celebration focused on a beloved stream," 18 May 2017
The English word swamp had evolved by the early 17th century, but its etymology is a quagmire.

— gemma tarlach, Discover Magazine, "20 Things You Didn't Know About ... Swamps," 9 May 2017
Fossil Facts Name: Vouivria damparisensis Meaning: The etymology of Vouivria is a little complex.

— brian switek, Scientific American Blog Network, "Paleo Profile: The Wyvern Dinosaur," 5 May 2017
Fossil Facts Name: Vouivria damparisensis Meaning: The etymology of Vouivria is a little complex.

— brian switek, Scientific American Blog Network, "Paleo Profile: The Wyvern Dinosaur," 5 May 2017
That word gets flung around with ease these days, long removed from its religious etymology.

— vanityfair.com, VanityFair.com, "RuPaul’s Drag Race,," 13 Mar. 2017
That word gets flung around with ease these days, long removed from its religious etymology.

— yohana desta, VanityFair.com, "RuPaul on the Legacy of Drag Race and How Judge Judy Explains Trump’s Election," 13 Mar. 2017

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

Commonly Confused: etymology and entomology

The etymology of etymology itself is relatively straightforward. Etymon means "origin of a word" in Latin, and comes from the Greek word etymon, meaning "literal meaning of a word according to its origin." Greek etymon in turn comes from etymos, which means "true." Be careful not to confuse etymology with the similar-sounding entomology. Entomon means "insect" in Greek, and entomology is the study of bugs.

Origin and Etymology of etymology

Middle English ethimologie, from Anglo-French, from Latin etymologia, from Greek, from etymon + -logia -logy

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

ETYMOLOGY Defined for English Language Learners

etymology

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noun

Definition of etymology for English Language Learners

: an explanation of where a word came from : the history of a word
: the study of word histories

ETYMOLOGY Defined for Kids

etymology

play

noun et·y·mol·o·gy \ ˌe-tə-ˈmä-lə-jē \

Definition of etymology for Students

plural etymologies

:the history of a word shown by tracing it or its parts back to the earliest known forms and meanings both in its own language and any other language from which it may have been taken