biology

noun

bi·​ol·​o·​gy bī-ˈä-lə-jē How to pronounce biology (audio)
1
: a branch of knowledge that deals with living organisms and vital processes
advances in the field of biology
a biology textbook
2
a
: the plant and animal life of a region or environment
the biology of the rainforest
b
: the life processes especially of an organism or group
the biology of cancer cells
broadly : ecology
biologist noun

Examples of biology in a Sentence

advances in the field of biology the biology of the rain forest the biology of tumor cells
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The reproductive biology and early life ecology of a common Caribbean brain coral, Diploria labyrinthiformis (Scleractinia: Faviinae) Marine Science. Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024 Mannion, a lifelong central New Yorker, was a biology and chemistry teacher for more than 20 years in the West Genesee Central School District before being elected to the New York state Senate in 2020. The Hill, 11 Dec. 2024 Trump doesn’t believe in Democracy, true, but these people don’t believe in biology. Bob Guccione Jr., SPIN, 10 Dec. 2024 The identification of the Orange gene not only confirms Little's predictions, but also reveals an entirely new pathway in pigment biology. Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for biology 

Word History

Etymology

German Biologie, from bi- + -logie -logy

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of biology was in 1799

Dictionary Entries Near biology

Cite this Entry

“Biology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biology. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

biology

noun
bi·​ol·​o·​gy bī-ˈäl-ə-jē How to pronounce biology (audio)
1
: a branch of knowledge that deals with living organisms and life processes
2
a
: the plant and animal life of a region or environment
b
: the life processes of an organism or group
biologist noun
Etymology

from German Biologie "biology," derived from Greek bi-, bio- "life" and -logia "study, science"

Medical Definition

biology

noun
bi·​ol·​o·​gy -jē How to pronounce biology (audio)
plural biologies
1
: a branch of science that deals with living organisms and vital processes
2
a
: the plant and animal life of a region or environment
b
: the laws and phenomena relating to an organism or group
3
: a treatise on biology

More from Merriam-Webster on biology

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