phenology
noun
phe·nol·o·gy
fi-ˈnä-lə-jē 
1
: a branch of science dealing with the relations between climate and periodic biological phenomena (such as bird migration or plant flowering)
2
: periodic biological phenomena that are correlated with climatic conditions
Examples of phenology in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
One study found wild bees across species have been changing their phenology, or timing of seasonal activities, and over the past 50 years the emergence date is four times faster.
—
Courtney McGinnis, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2025
Trillium is one of the most beloved ephemerals in the northeastern United States and presents a fascinating example of phenology and interdependence.
—Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2025
The intrigue: Forecasting peak bloom is notoriously tricky, Marlee Theil, the project manager for the cherry tree phenology project at UW, told Axios.
—Christine Clarridge, Axios, 13 Mar. 2025
Monitoring phenology and behavior of polar bears at den emergence using cameras and satellite telemetry
Before joining Discover Magazine, Paul Smaglik spent over 20 years as a science journalist, specializing in U.S. life science policy and global scientific career issues.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
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Courtney McGinnis, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2025
Trillium is one of the most beloved ephemerals in the northeastern United States and presents a fascinating example of phenology and interdependence.
—Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2025
The intrigue: Forecasting peak bloom is notoriously tricky, Marlee Theil, the project manager for the cherry tree phenology project at UW, told Axios.
—Christine Clarridge, Axios, 13 Mar. 2025
Monitoring phenology and behavior of polar bears at den emergence using cameras and satellite telemetry
Before joining Discover Magazine, Paul Smaglik spent over 20 years as a science journalist, specializing in U.S. life science policy and global scientific career issues.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for phenology
Cite this Entry
“Phenology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phenology. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
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