botany

noun

bot·​a·​ny ˈbä-tə-nē 

ˈbät-nē

plural botanies

1

: a branch of biology dealing with plant life

2

a

: plant life

b

: the properties and life phenomena exhibited by a plant, plant type, or plant group

3

: a botanical treatise or study

especially : a particular system of botany

botanist

ˈbä-tə-nist 

ˈbät-nist

noun

Examples of botany in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There are workshops on everything from botany to photography, as well as hikes and tours at all levels. —Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 8 May 2025

At first, Davis says, his work was pure botany, just filling out the Coffea family tree. —Marta Zaraska, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2025

Press): The author of this memoir, who grew up climbing trees and exploring Como Park, weaves a blend of botany, philosophy, personal reflections and healing through nature from grief after the loss of her father with the backdrop of her father’s educational Tree Trek. —Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 2 Mar. 2025

In botany, an ecotype occurs when a plant adapts to different environmental conditions with different size, appearance, or other traits. —Ian Rose, JSTOR Daily, 26 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

botanic botanical + -y entry 2

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for botany

• cottony
• ethnobotany
• monotony
• paleobotany

Kids Definition

botany

noun

bot·​a·​ny ˈbät-ᵊn-e 

ˈbät-ne

1

: a branch of biology dealing with plant life

2

a

: plant life (as of a given region)

b

: the biology of a plant or plant group

Medical Definition

botany

noun

bot·​a·​ny ˈbät-ᵊn-ē, ˈbät-nē 

plural botanies

1

: a branch of biology dealing with plant life

2

a

: plant life

b

: the properties and life phenomena exhibited by a plant, plant type, or plant group

3

: a botanical treatise or study

especially : a particular system of botany