human ecology

noun

1
: a branch of sociology dealing especially with the spatial and temporal interrelationships between humans and their economic, social, and political organization
2
: the ecology of human communities and populations especially as concerned with preservation of environmental quality (as of air or water) through proper application of conservation and civil engineering practices

Examples of human ecology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In 2021, the Tribal Elder Food Box program began in response to a shortage of food for Native elders, said Carolee Dodge Francis, who chairs the department of civil society community studies in the school of human ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Siddhant Pusdekar, Journal Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2024 Even under the most optimistic forecasts, the number of extreme precipitation events is expected to rise dramatically in the upper Plains — and even more so in other parts of the country, said Eric Chu, an assistant professor of human ecology at the University of California at Davis. Scott Dance, Washington Post, 29 June 2024 And the dynamics of glacial advancement and recession have profoundly affected human ecology. Lesley Evans Ogden, Discover Magazine, 7 Apr. 2023 An even more overlooked problem is overpopulation (defined as living unsustainably, whether due to a high number of people at a low level of consumption or a smaller number of people at a high level of consumption - basic human ecology). Keith Kloor, Discover Magazine, 29 Apr. 2011 The film comments on human ecology and behavior through a reticent (and sometimes) absurd lens. Daron James, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2022 Cara Cuite is a health psychologist and assistant extension specialist in the department of human ecology at Rutgers University. Rebecca Morss, CNN, 6 Oct. 2022 Rivera-Collazo is one of the only researchers in the niche discipline of Puerto Rican climate change, human ecology, and archaeology. Palabra, al, 16 Sep. 2022 The new contract also sets Drake’s salary as Distinguished University Professor in the departments of medicine, ophthalmology and education and human ecology, beginning July 1 through June 30, 2024. Emily Bamforth, cleveland, 28 Feb. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'human ecology.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of human ecology was in 1907

Dictionary Entries Near human ecology

Cite this Entry

“Human ecology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/human%20ecology. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

human ecology

noun
1
: a branch of sociology concerned especially with the study of the spatial and temporal interrelationships between human beings and their economic, social, and political organization
2
: the ecology of human communities and populations especially as concerned with preservation of environmental quality (as of air or water) through proper application of conservation and civil engineering practices

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