osteology

noun

os·​te·​ol·​o·​gy ˌä-stē-ˈä-lə-jē 

1

: a branch of anatomy dealing with the bones

2

: the bony structure of an organism

osteological

ˌä-stē-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

adjective

osteologist

ˌä-stē-ˈä-lə-jist 

noun

Examples of osteology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

So far, all three bodies were found in adult-sized coffins and sent to an on-site osteology lab. —Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 5 Aug. 2024

The work could aid researchers in diverse fields involving bone, such as osteology, forensic medicine and archaeology. —Mark Barna, Discover Magazine, 3 May 2018

While Ferry is not the only bone seller in the market, his TikTok videos have sparked a conversation about his lack of education in osteology -- the study of bone anatomy -- as well as the ethics and legality of his company and the commercial bone industry, in general. —David Toledo, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2021

Another chance encounter sparks his affair with Jess, a specialist in vertebrate osteology at the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History. —Emily Bingham, The Courier-Journal, 17 Mar. 2023

Christopher Aris is a biological anthropologist who currently teaches anatomy and osteology at the University of Sheffield. —Christopher Aris, Discover Magazine, 2 Apr. 2021

Since then, 26 burials have been found and four sets of remains have been exhumed and taken to an on-site osteology lab, Tulsa officials said. —Raja Razek, CNN, 12 Nov. 2022

When the 13 bones were shipped to Fiji and studied by Dr. D.W. Hoodless of the Central Medical School the next year, forensic osteology was still limited, Jantz said. —Marwa Eltagouri, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Mar. 2018

The osteology of Neovenator salerii (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Wealden Group (Barremian) of the Isle of Wight. —Darren Naish, Scientific American Blog Network, 16 June 2017

Word History

Etymology

New Latin osteologia, from Greek, description of bones, from oste- + -logia -logy

First Known Use

1670, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for osteology

• aetiology
• anthropology
• archaeology
• archeology
• audiology
• cardiology
• climatology
• cohomology
• cosmetology
• criminology
• demonology
• dermatology

Medical Definition

osteology

noun

os·​te·​ol·​o·​gy ˌäs-tē-ˈäl-ə-jē 

plural osteologies

1

: a branch of anatomy dealing with the bones

2

: the bony structure of an organism

osteological

-tē-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl 

adjective