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

phenological

ˌfē-nə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

adjective

phenologically

ˌfē-nə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of phenology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Think about the phenology of plants, taking note of when the plants complete their life cycle, as this can shift the timing of the flowers. —Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 8 Apr. 2026

Beyond production, the goal is to safeguard Sangiovese’s genetic diversity while advancing understanding of phenology, productivity, and emerging epigenetic factors. —Emily Cappiello, Forbes.com, 24 Mar. 2026

Gardeners, farmers, naturalists and scientists have long relied on phenology to guide decision-making. —Alice Cason, Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2025

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

Word History

Etymology

phenomena + -logy

First Known Use

circa 1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for phenology

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