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

This is a science experiment for I am in an oceanography course. —Brian Anthony Hernandez, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025

Program covers oceanography, surf skills, ecology and fitness/competition in addition to water safety training and skills. —Jessie Dax-Setkus, Orange County Register, 23 Mar. 2025

Jaime Palter, an associate professor of oceanography at the University of Rhode Island, joins The Excerpt to discuss the science and potential of this exciting new weapon in the fight against climate change. —Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2025

The intrigue: Perry currently leads regulatory affairs for Shell Renewable Generation in the Americas, and has a Ph.D. in oceanography. —Andrew Freedman, Axios, 30 Jan. 2025

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