oceanography

noun

ocean·​og·​ra·​phy ˌō-shə-ˈnä-grə-fē 

: a science that deals with the oceans and includes the delimitation of their extent and depth, the physics and chemistry of their waters, marine biology, and the exploitation of their resources

oceanographer

ˌō-shə-ˈnä-grə-fər 

noun

oceanographic

ˌō-shə-nə-ˈgra-fik 

adjective

or less commonly oceanographical

ˌō-shə-nə-ˈgra-fi-kəl 

oceanographically

ˌō-shə-nə-ˈgra-fi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of oceanography in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While the ship is expected to quickly attract marine life, measuring its effectiveness depends on the reason it was deployed, said Chris Stallings, a professor of biological oceanography at the University of South Florida in Tampa. — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2026

Ocean roots The physics behind this tabletop development shares surprising roots with deep-sea oceanography. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026

This may be surprising, but meteorology, oceanography and geography are primary factors. — Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

The information is shown in the application by the University of Connecticut, Avery Point Campus Department of Marine Sciences on Shennecossett Road in Groton, where there is a biological oceanography research lab, according to the application. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Ozeanographie, Oceanographie from Ozean, Ocean ocean + -o- -o- + -graphie -graphy (after Geographie geography, Aërographie "meteorology")

Note: The German word was apparently introduced by the German seaman and academic Eduard Bobrik (1802-70) in Handbuch der praktischen Seefahrtskunde, Band 1 (Zürich/Hamburg, 1846), p. 79 ff.

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for oceanography

• bibliography
• choreography
• chromatography
• crystallography
• hagiography
• iconography
• lexicography
• metallography
• myelography
• physiography
• plethysmography
• polarography

Kids Definition

oceanography

noun

ocean·​og·​ra·​phy ˌō-shə-ˈnäg-rə-fē 

: a science that deals with the ocean

oceanographer

ˌō-shə-ˈnäg-rə-fər 

noun

oceanographic

-nə-ˈgraf-ik 

adjective

oceanographically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb