serology

noun

se·​rol·​o·​gy sə-ˈrä-lə-jē 

si-

: a medical science dealing with blood serum especially in regard to its immunological reactions and properties

also : the testing of blood serum to detect the presence of antibodies against a specific antigen

serological

ˌsir-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

adjective

or serologic

ˌsir-ə-ˈlä-jik 

serologically

ˌsir-ə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

serologist

sə-ˈrä-lə-jist 

si-

noun

Examples of serology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In many older cases, the evidence initially was screened using serology, a method that detects the presence of fluid such as semen. —Gina Barton, USA Today, 2 May 2025

In this case, researchers combined serology, molecular virology, and animal models to evaluate a virus that would otherwise remain hidden in the background of routine surveillance. —John Drake, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025

Those cases were discovered using blood, or serology, testing and seem to have been transmitted from sick animals, not people. —Erika Edwards, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024

In last week’s announcement, the CDC said blood samples from the infected person in Missouri and their household contact are being sent to the agency to test for antibodies to the virus (a lab process called serology). —Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 26 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

sero- + -logy, probably after German Serologie

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for serology

• anthology
• apology
• astrology
• biology
• christology
• chronology
• conchology
• cosmology
• cryptology
• cytology
• doxology
• ecology

Medical Definition

serology

noun

se·​rol·​o·​gy si-ˈräl-ə-jē 

plural serologies

: a medical science dealing with blood serum especially in regard to its immunological reactions and properties

also : the testing of blood serum to detect the presence of antibodies against a specific antigen