philology
noun
phi·lol·o·gy
fə-ˈlä-lə-jē 
also fī-
1
: the study of literature and of disciplines relevant to literature or to language as used in literature
2
a
: linguistics
especially
: historical and comparative linguistics
b
: the study of human speech especially as the vehicle of literature and as a field of study that sheds light on cultural history
Examples of philology in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This concerns archaeology just like religious studies, philology or anthropology.
—
Max Hauptman, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
The images with the strongest connection related to the transport of jars and cloth, said study coauthor Kathryn Kelley, a research fellow in the department of classical philology and Italian studies at the University of Bologna.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
Kane’s compelling intellectual history of West Africa places Timbuktu within a much broader tradition of Islamic learning in the region, which was home to other medieval knowledge centers and which continues to advance the study of Arabic philology even today.
—Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2016
The science of philology—how words can alter the meaning and motives of history—cried out for exposure of the unknown.
—Cynthia Ozick, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Apr. 2023
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Max Hauptman, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
The images with the strongest connection related to the transport of jars and cloth, said study coauthor Kathryn Kelley, a research fellow in the department of classical philology and Italian studies at the University of Bologna.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
Kane’s compelling intellectual history of West Africa places Timbuktu within a much broader tradition of Islamic learning in the region, which was home to other medieval knowledge centers and which continues to advance the study of Arabic philology even today.
—Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2016
The science of philology—how words can alter the meaning and motives of history—cried out for exposure of the unknown.
—Cynthia Ozick, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for philology
Cite this Entry
“Philology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/philology. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
philology
noun
phi·lol·o·gy
fə-ˈläl-ə-jē
: the study of language and especially of historical development in languages
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