hydrology

1 of 2

noun (1)

hy·​drol·​o·​gy hī-ˈdrä-lə-jē 

: a science dealing with the properties, distribution, and circulation of water on and below the earth's surface and in the atmosphere

hydrologic

ˌhī-drə-ˈlä-jik 

adjective

or hydrological

ˌhī-drə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

hydrologically

ˌhī-drə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

hydrologist

hī-ˈdrä-lə-jist 

noun

hydrologist

2 of 2

noun (2)

hy·​drol·​o·​gist hīˈdräləjə̇st 

plural -s

: a specialist in hydrology

Examples of hydrology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The disaster also prompted the study of ancient floods as a way to gauge how common large flash floods are in specific areas — a field called paleoflood hydrology. — Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 27 July 2026

This stingray is currently known from only two drainage systems, the Demerara River and the río Guanare which is… puzzling, to say the least, as these systems are not obviously connected in modern hydrology. — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Earlier this year, hydrology experts began warning that water levels in the Colorado River Basin would approach critically low levels due to the lack of snowpack over the winter months. — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 13 July 2026

Once a project of this size is built, the hydrology of the site is permanently changed. — Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 27 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

New Latin hydrologia, from Latin hydr- + -logia -logy

Noun (2)

hydrology + -ist

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1762, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hydrology

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

Kids Definition

hydrology

noun

hy·​drol·​o·​gy hī-ˈdräl-ə-jē 

: a science dealing with the characteristics, distribution, and circulation of water on and below the surface of the land and in the atmosphere

hydrologic

ˌhī-drə-ˈläj-ik 

adjective

or hydrological

-i-kəl 

hydrologist

hī-ˈdräl-ə-jist 

noun

Medical Definition

hydrology

noun

hy·​drol·​o·​gy hī-ˈdräl-ə-jē 

plural hydrologies

: the body of medical knowledge and practice concerned with the therapeutic use of bathing and water