morphology

noun mor·phol·o·gy \ mȯr-ˈfä-lə-jē \

Updated on: 29 Apr 2018

Definition of morphology

1 a : a branch of biology that deals with the form and structure of animals and plants

b : the form and structure of an organism or any of its parts

amphibian morphology

external and internal eye morphology

2 a : a study and description of word formation (such as inflection, derivation, and compounding) in language

b : the system of word-forming elements and processes in a language

According to English morphology, the third person singular present tense of a verb is formed by adding -s.

3 a : a study of structure or form

b : structure, form

the unique morphology of the city
—H. J. Nelson

4 : the external structure of rocks in relation to the development of erosional forms or topographic features

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morphological

play \ˌmȯr-fə-ˈlä-ji-kəl\ or less commonly morphologic play \-ˈlä-jik\ adjective

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morphologically

play \-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

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morphologist

play \mȯr-ˈfä-lə-jist\ noun

See morphology defined for English-language learners

See morphology defined for kids

Recent Examples of morphology from the Web

Sorting the spiders with the aid of a powerful electron microscope, the researcher relied on such distinguishing markers as genital morphology and carapace shape to make her classifications.

— ryan p. smith, Smithsonian, "Madagascar’s Ancient ‘Pelican Spiders’ Are As Striking As They Are Strange," 11 Jan. 2018
However, that same diversity—revealed through research on Native American cranial morphology and tooth structure—creates its own dilemma.

— ben potter, National Geographic, "Lost Native American Ancestor Revealed in Ancient Child’s DNA," 3 Jan. 2018
Grayson subscribes to the Hopeful Monster theory, a term coined in the 1930s by a geneticist named Richard Goldschmidt, who was interested in how radical changes in morphology evolve.

— alessandra codinha, Vogue, "A New Exhibition Finds Hope in Moths and Monsters," 12 Feb. 2018
Person said the plesiosaur was identified by its morphology.

— jack dura, The Seattle Times, "80 million-year-old remains prepped for North Dakota display," 15 Jan. 2018
Due to highly evolved wing morphology, dragonflies allow for not only fast flight but also gliding, hovering and backwards flight.

— emily matchar, Smithsonian, "Turning Dragonflies Into Drones," 10 Feb. 2017
However, their development, morphology, and even function are still up for debate.

— diana gitig, Ars Technica, "Check out the genes on this huge ‘shroom," 9 Nov. 2017
Moreover, when the skeletons of these beasts were studied, their morphology suggested that almost all of them were male.

— The Economist, "PalaeontologyMammoth society seems to have been like that of modern elephants," 2 Nov. 2017
Until recently, arachnologists trying to unravel how spiders' vast range of adaptations arose built family trees based on morphology and behavior.

— elizabeth pennisi, Science | AAAS, "Spider genes put a new spin on arachnids’ potent venoms, stunning silks, and surprising history," 19 Oct. 2017

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

What is morphology?

Within the field of biology, morphology is the study of the shapes and arrangement of parts of organisms, in order to determine their function, their development, and how they may have been shaped by evolution. Morphology is particularly important in classifying species, since it can often reveal how closely one species is related to another. Morphology is studied within other sciences as well, including astronomy and geology. And in language, morphology considers where words come from and why they look the way they do.

Origin and Etymology of morphology

German Morphologie, from morph- + -logie -logy

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1828

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

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

MORPHOLOGY Defined for English Language Learners

morphology

noun

Definition of morphology for English Language Learners

linguistics : the study and description of how words are formed in language
biology : the study of the form and structure of animals and plants
: the form and structure of a plant or animal or any of its parts

Medical Dictionary

morphology

noun mor·phol·o·gy \ mȯr-ˈfäl-ə-jē \

medical Definition of morphology

plural morphologies

1 : a branch of biology that deals with the form and structure of animals and plants especially with respect to the forms, relations, metamorphoses, and phylogenetic development of organs apart from their functions — see anatomy 1 — compare physiology 1

2 : the form and structure of an organism or any of its parts