geology

noun

ge·​ol·​o·​gy jē-ˈä-lə-jē 

plural geologies

1

a

: a science that deals with the history of the earth and its life especially as recorded in rocks

b

: a study of the solid matter of a celestial body (such as the moon)

2

: geologic features

the geology of Arizona

3

: a treatise on geology

geologist

jē-ˈä-lə-jist 

noun

Examples of geology in a Sentence

learning about the geology of Hawaii

Recent Examples on the Web

As for how, if that’s the case, new species arise to replace the lost, nowhere in his geology does Lyell offer an explanation. —Lewis Hyde, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025

Melting Magma Heat drives geology, the rocky foundation upon which everything else, from volcanic activity and atmospheric chemistry to biology, is built. —Robin Andrews, Wired News, 15 June 2025

Steve has a background in geology—the same as my father. —Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 15 June 2025

Flint’s characteristics are specific to the place and time of its formation in the earth’s geology. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 5 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin geologia, from ge- + -logia -logy

First Known Use

1735, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for geology

• anthology
• apology
• astrology
• biology
• christology
• chronology
• conchology
• cosmology
• cryptology
• cytology
• doxology
• ecology

Kids Definition

geology

noun

ge·​ol·​o·​gy jē-ˈäl-ə-jē 

plural geologies

1

a

: a science that deals with the history of the earth and its life especially as recorded in rocks

b

: a study of the features of a heavenly body (as the moon)

2

: the geologic features (as mountains or plains) of an area

geologic

ˌjē-ə-ˈläj-ik

adjective

or geological

-i-kəl

geologically

-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb

geologist

jē-ˈäl-ə-jəst 

noun