ecology
noun
ecol·o·gy
i-ˈkä-lə-jē 
e-
plural ecologies
1
: a branch of science concerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their environments
2
: the totality or pattern of relations between organisms and their environment
3
4
: environment, climate
the moral ecology
also
: an often delicate or intricate system or complex
the ecology of language
Examples of ecology in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Naturalist Cris Sarabia will teach participants about local ecology during the ride.
—
Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
Haystack Rock can be seen year-round, but the Haystack Rock Awareness Program recommends visiting when its members are on the beach, at low tide, from March through October, to answer questions about ecology and wildlife.
—Alia Beard Rau, USA Today, 10 June 2026
This result suggests that a tiny insect brain can support surprisingly flexible behavior, according to James Nieh, a professor in the department of ecology, behavior and evolution at the University of California San Diego, who was not involved with the study.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 4 June 2026
Her winning series tells the stories of influential women from Indigenous communities across Oaxaca, Mexico, whose work is creating meaningful impact in fields including law, linguistics, the arts and ecology.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for ecology
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Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
Haystack Rock can be seen year-round, but the Haystack Rock Awareness Program recommends visiting when its members are on the beach, at low tide, from March through October, to answer questions about ecology and wildlife.
—Alia Beard Rau, USA Today, 10 June 2026
This result suggests that a tiny insect brain can support surprisingly flexible behavior, according to James Nieh, a professor in the department of ecology, behavior and evolution at the University of California San Diego, who was not involved with the study.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 4 June 2026
Her winning series tells the stories of influential women from Indigenous communities across Oaxaca, Mexico, whose work is creating meaningful impact in fields including law, linguistics, the arts and ecology.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for ecology
Cite this Entry
“Ecology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ecology. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ecology
noun
ecol·o·gy
i-ˈkäl-ə-jē
e-
1
: a branch of science concerned with the relationships between living things and their environment
2
: the pattern of relationships between a group of living things and their environment
Medical Definition
ecology
noun
ecol·o·gy
-jē
plural ecologies
1
: a branch of science concerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their environments
2
: the totality or pattern of relations between organisms and their environment
3
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